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RUSSELL 


ON 


SCIENTIFIC  HORSESHOEING 


FOR 


LEVELING  AND  BALANCING  THE  ACTION 
AND  GAIT  OF  HORSES 


•1 


AND 


REMEDYING  AND  CURING  THE  DIFFERENT 
{       %  DISEASES  OF  THE  FOOT 


FOURTH  EDITION  REVISED  AND  ENLARGED 


^^ 


WITH    4r50     ILLUSTRATIONS 


BY 

PROF.  WILLIAM  RUSS 

Practical   Hokseshoer 


CINCINNATI 
THE    ROBERT    CLARKE    COMPANY 

1899 


^ 


Copyrighted,  1899 
By  GEORGE  B.  RUSSELL 


:  ^^g^^j.'*^^/^^!cjgAi^^X^^35^ 


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.TIONALJUOCCS.TO 


BUSISMOES 


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j        ,-flW^    -  nu-jtjnutj       rur     EXTENT  dHb  COfiritt  riENSIVENt  5i    Of    EiniSlT  OF    HflHC-MUOE   HORSESHOES, 

4  J         ''^       ^    or  sfEtiHL  bEsmN.  imtenoeo  to  irEriEOT  DEtEtTs  in  houses'  rcEr.  both  NflTyRdi.  und  as  rue 
'si      -  ■         JJF     ■ES'J'-TS  or  inpRof-ER  smoeih^i    j»o  otso  to  in^reusc  tme  SPetb  of  TROTTind  4rtb  tiRiviH^ 

"  *->  HORSES     MORSESHOEBi    TOOLS     FOR   t.REOT   HERIT,   ESPEt.ldLLT   Mt   THE   TOOT  flOJUSTEB,  t"flKM   IS 

'jif  vE«r  ErrECTiUE  jmb  sjhrie,  unc  enables  tme  operatob  to  so  flo^usx  tm  shoe  4S 

TO  KRFtSTLT  EQUALIZE  ITS  PBCSSWBE  TO 


"The  TTnited  Stntes  of  America,  Tiy  act  of  their  Congre<;=;,  have  authorized  The  World's  Cohimbian 
Commission,  at  the  1  iiternatioiial  Kxhibition  licKl  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  State  of  Illinois,  in  the_  year 
1893,  to  decree  a  medal  for  specific  merit  which  is  set  forth  below,  over  the  name  of  an  individual  judge 
acting  as  an  examiner,  upon  the  finding  of  a  board  of  International  Judges,  to  William  Riissell,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  Exhibit:  Horseshoes  and  Horseshoers'  Tools.  Award:  Horseshoes —for  extent  and  com- 
prehensiveness of  Exhibit  of  Hand-made  Horseshoes,  of  special  design,  intended  to  remedy  defects 
in  horses'  feet,  both  natural  and  as  the  results  of  improper  shoeing,  and  also  to  increase  the  speed  of 
trotting  and  driving  horses.  Horseshoers'  Tools— for  Great  Merit  especially  in  the  Foot  Adjuster, 
which  is  very  effective  and  simple,  and  enables  the  operator  to  so  adjust  the  shoe  as  to  perfectly 
equalize  its  pressure  to  all  parts  of  the  foot." 


CH4^ 


TO 


®  W'ilUam.  Ressell  &  Sons,  '5,* 

IHAND-MADE  HORSE  SHOES,  S 

lU  (ForremedTingdefectsin  horses' feet.)    j^  ^ 

^  *  And  Improvement  in  * 

'^^ ■      ,6 


Cir^cinnati   *   Siii)ui3friaf   -   ^rpOi5itioiu 

THE    FIRST    PREMIUM 

AWARDED   TO 

WILLIAM  RUSSELL  AND  SONS 

J^o/'  Best  Display  of  Hand-made  Horseshoes, 

Remedying  Defects  in  Horses^  Feel, 

For  Improvement  in  Horseshoe  Iron, 

And  for  Morbid  Specimens  of  Horses'  Feet, 

Shoiving  Injuries  sustained  from  Improper  Slioeing, 

CHAS.  F.   WILSTACH,  President, 
ABNER  L.  FRAZER.  Secretary. 


At  the  Cincinnati  Expositions  have  been  awarded  to  Prof.  Russell,  as  above, 
for  the  successive  years  of  1870,  1871,  1872,  1873,  1874,  1875,  1879,  1880, 
1881,  and  1883. 


3iv5t  l^rtnniuTi^fi! 


Have   also   been   awarded   to   Prof.  Eussell's   displays   wherever    exhibited, 
notably  at  the 

TEXAS   STATE    FAIRS    AND    DALLAS    EXPOSITIONS, 

IN    1889    AND    1890,     FOR 

Best  System  of  Scientific  Horseshoeing, 

Best  Display  of  Hand-made  Horseshoes, 

And  Best  Display  of  Morbid  Anatomical  Specimens. 


INTERNA  TIONAL  EXHIBITION, 

PHILADELPHIA,  1876. 

The  United  States  Centennieil  Commission  has  examined  the 
report  of  the  Judges,  and  accepted  the  following  reasons,  and  decreed, 
an  airard  in  conformity  therorith. 

Philadelphia,  December  14,  1876. 

REPORT    ON    AWARDS. 

Product:  HORSESHOES  (Hand  and  Machine  Made);  also,  HORSESHOE  IRON. 
Mame  and  Address  of  Exhibitor:  WILLIAM  RUSSELL,  CINCINNATI,  OHIO. 

Tlie  undersigned,  having  examined  the  product  herein  described,  respectfully 
recommends  the  same  to  the  United  States  Centennial  Commission,  for  Award,  for  tJie 
folloiving  reasons,  viz., 

A  variety  of  shoes  remedying  defects  in  hoofs;  also,  patented  rolled  iron,  for  hand- 
shoe  making.     All  highly  meritorious. 

J.  D.  1MB  0 DEN, 

[Signature  of  the  Judge.] 
Approval  of  Group  Judges. 

DANIEL  STEINMETZ,        CHAS.  STAPLES,        JULIUS  DIEFENBACH, 
G.  L.  REED,  ■  DAV.  McHARDY,        J.  BAIN. 

A  true  ropy  of  the  record. 

FRANCIS  A.   WALKER,  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Awards. 

Given   l>g  authority  of  the   United,  States  Centennial  Commission. 

A.   T.  G  OS  HORN, 

Director  General. 

J.  L.   CAMPBELL,  J.  R.  HAW  LEY, 

Secretary.  President. 


3Eenncj50ee  ♦  Ccntcnniaf  ♦  CjpoBition. 


AT    NASHVILLE,    1897. 


AWARDED    TO 


WILLIAM    RUSSELL,  CINCINNATI,  OHIO. 

The  Highest  and  only  Premium  Given  for 

The  Best  Exliihit  of  Hand-made  Horseshoes 

And  Horseshoers'   Tools  and  Paraphernalia, 

Including  a  Most  Complete  Anatomical  Museum 
Of  tJie  Horse^s  Feet  and  Legs,  with  Special   Reference  to   the   Diseases  Causec' 
From   Unbalanced  Feet  and  Improper  Shoeing. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  FOURTH  EDITION. 


Modern  farriery  has  become  one  of  the  most  progressive 
of  the  sciences.  For  many  years  the  standard  works  of  the 
English,  French  and  German  authors  were  reprinted  and  fol- 
lowed as  if  the  subject  had  been  exhausted  by  them.  But  this 
view  has  given  place  in  America  to  the  most  rigid  examination 
into  the  wants  of  the  American  trotting  horse,  the  latest  devel- 
opment of  the  high  bred  and  swift  trotting  horse;  so  that  in- 
stead of  American  farriery  being  confined  to  the  proper  dressing 
of  the  foot  and  shoeing  of  the  sound  and  the  unsound  horse,  in- 
vestigation has  been  extended  to  the  action  or  gait,  and  many 
invaluable  shoeing  devices  have  been  invented  by  the  ingenious 
American  mind  to  regulate,  as  well  as  to  control  the  action  of 
the  horse  both  at  the  walk  and  at  full  speed.  This  is  so  great 
a  step  in  advance  that  European  works  are  no  longer  regarded 
as  the  highest  standard  of  authority,  but  the  American  treatises 
have  largely  taken  their  place  both  in  Europe  and  America. 

The  author  has  been  impressed  with  this  conviction  for 
more  than  a  decade.  For  forty  years  he  has  been  a  practical 
blacksmith,  and  has  shod  all  grades  of  horses  from  the  ponder- 
ous Norman  to  the  fleet-footed  thoroughbred  race  horse.  His 
place  of  business  has  been  headquarters  for  the  treatment  of 
every  species  of  lameness  and  abnormal  condition  of  the  foot, 
as  well  as  the  smithy  for  perfecting  the  gait  and  developing  the 
speed,  by  the  introduction  of  such  shoes  as  each  individual 
horse  under  treatment  demanded. 

Moreover,  he  has  patiently  studied  the  anatomy,  pathology 
and  mechanical  action  of  the  foot,  limb  and  body,  so  that  by 
this  dual  mastery  of  the   theoretical   and  practical  science  of 

(xi) 


Xll  INTRODUCTION    TO    THE    FOURTH    EDITION. 

modern  farriery  he  might  leave,  as  a  monument,  a  life  work 
that  would  prove  both  instructive  and  useful  to  the  horse  com- 
munity. When  the  third  edition  of  the  present  treatise  was 
published  he  believed  that  he  would  not  issue  still  another  re- 
vised edition  ;  but  his  constant  study  of  the  subject  and  his 
interviews  with  the  leading  trainers  and  shoers  and  horse  own- 
ers of  this  country  have  evolved  so  many  valuable  inventions 
and  so  much  improvement  in  the  treatment  of  chronic  disorders 
that  another  edition  has  become  absolutely  imperative. 

The  author  trusts  that  the  fourth  edition  will  meet  all  re- 
quirements of  being  the  latest  standard  authority  on  modern 
farriery.  Prof.  William  Russell. 


PREFACE  TO  FOURTH  EDITION. 


Since  the  publication  of  the  third  edition  of  my  treatise  on 
Scientific  Horseshoeing,  so  many  additional  cases  have  come  to 
mv  attention  of  the  results  of  neglect  of  the  horse's  foot,  that  I 
have  concluded  to  embody  them,  with  copious  illustration,  in  a 
complete  final  work  to  embrace  all  the  important  matter  con- 
tained in  the  first,  second  and  third  editions,  as  well  as  the  ad- 
ditional contents  comprised  in  the  fourth  edition. 

After  a  practical  experience  of  over  a  half  century  at  the 
forge  and  anvil,  I  trust  that  I  have  herein  demonstrated  my 
theory,  by  the  most  indubitable  proofs,  that  the  cause  of  most 
of  the  foot  and  leg  diseases  of  the  horse  is  to  be  attributed  ta 
the  failure  to  properly  balance  the  feet  in  shoeing.  And  I  am 
upheld  in  my  opinion  by  the  best  and  most  experienced  trainers 
and  horseshoers  in  the  country.  Readers  of  this,  the  fourth 
edition  of  Scientific  Horseshoeing,  therefore,  will  understand 
my  theory  ;  upon  this  I  believe  that  the  horseshoeing  craft  can 
rely  faithfully,  and  I  thus  confidently  proclaim  it,  so  that  the- 
inquiring  reader,  who  necessarily  must  be  either  a  practical 
horseshoer,  trainer,  owner,  or  interested  in  the  horse,  may  un- 
derstand as  he  reads  the  reasons  for  the  remedies  and  treatment* 
for  the  disorders  to  the  foot  and  leg  herein  described. 

Some  diseases  are  recognizable  at  once  and  can  be  assigned 
to  known  causes ;  others  appear  only  after  a  shorter  or  longer 
course  of  treatment  and  experiment,  while  many  do  not  respond 
to  the  most  exhaustive  diagnosis.  In  the  present  instance  I 
believe  a  very  comprehensive  field  has  been  covered,  and  that  a 
study  of  this  book  and  the  cases  cited  will  enable  the  farrier  to 
prescribe  the  proper  treatment  from  his  own  diagnosis  of  cases. 

(xiii) 


XIV  PREFACE    TO    FOURTH    EDITION. 

But  it  is  not  to  diseases  mainly  this  edition  is  devoted.  The 
few  remarks  here  relative  to  proper  care  of  the  feet  are  equally 
applicable  to  the  sound  horse,  and  make  more  emphatic  the 
necessity  for  the  care  and  preservation  of  the  sound  foot. 

It  is  my  good  fortune  to  number  on  my  list  of  friends  many 
of  the  most  prominent  horsemen  and  farriers  in  almost  all  parts 
of  the  country,  and  for  the  many  courtesies  received  from  them, 
at  various  times  and  places,  my  thanks  are  due.  Particularly, 
it  should  be  stated  here,  that  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  S.  T.  Harris, 
of  Cincinnati,  the  well-known  authority  on  all  subjects  relating 
to  the  welfare  of  the  horse,  for  his  valuable  assistance  and  sug- 
gestions opportunely  given  while  I  was  pursuing  the  investiga- 
tion of  the  principles  of  this  work,  and  continuing  through  an 
association  of  more  than  thirty-five  years.  Wm.  Russell. 

No.  1722  Freeman  avenue,  Cincinnati,  O. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS.  XV 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Portrait  of  Author ii 

Diploma,  Cincinnati  Industrial  Exposition- v 

Medals  and  Report  on  Awards,  Centennial  Commission vii 

IMedals  and  Awards,  World's  Columbian  Exposition viii 

Tennessee  Centennial  Exposition x 

Introduction  to  Fourth  Edition xi 

Preface  to  Fourth  Edition xiii 

List  of  Illustrations xxi 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Horse  in  General. 

Judging  the  Useful  Qualities  of  Horses 25 

The  Ideal  Horse 26 

Light  Horses 26 

Symmetrical  Qualities 27 

Judging  Action 28 

Structural  Examination 29 

Muscular  Development 29 

Front  Limbs 30 

Feet  and  Legs 31 

The  Trunk 31 

Hind  Limbs 32 

CHAPTER  II. 

Bones  of  the  Horse. 

The  Trunk 33 

The  Limbs 33 

The  Bones  in  Detail 34 

The  Bones  Enumerated 35 

The  Skeleton  Described 37 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  Foot  and  Locomotory  Apparatus, 

The  Subject  Defined 38 

Motion  in  General 38 

The  Limbs  in  General 39 

The  Foot  in  General 39 

Bones  at  the  Foot 40 


XVI  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

The  Pedal  or  Coffin-bone 40 

Bones  and  their  Articulations 41 

Ligaments  and  Lubricants 41 

Muscles  of  the  Foot  and  Leg , 42 

Soft  Tissues 43 

Sensitive  Tissues 44 

Circulation  of  the  Foot 45 

Nerve  Supply 46 

Horny  Tissues 46 

The  Wall,  the  Sole,  the  Frog 47 

Development  of  the  Hoof 48 

Importance  of  the  Subject 49 

Colored  Plates,  with  Anatomical  Sections,  described 50 

Queries  and  Answers,  Outlining  the  Anatomy  of  the  Foot 63 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Practical  Horseshoeing — Science,  Art  and  Common  Sense. 

Prof.  Russell  in  His  Study 67 

Necessity  of  Shoeing 68 

Past  and  Present 69 

Important  to  Horsemen 70 

Essential  Knowledge 71 

Condensed  Anatomy 72 

The  Center  of  Gravity 73 

Emphasizing  the  Facts 74 

Variation  of  Feet 75 

The  Angle  of  Incidence 75 

AVhat  Rule  to  go  by 75 

How  to  get  on  in  the  Work 76 

Farriers'  Tools 76 

Russell's  Scientific  Foot  Adjuster 77 . 

The  Adjuster  Applied — for  Leveling  and  Balancing  the  Foot 77 

Other  Mechanical  Aids 77 

Method  of  Procedure 78 

DiflFerent  Kinds  of  Feet 81 

The  Natural  Model 81 

Rational  Shoeing 82 

Fundamental  Principles 82 

Securing  the  Levels 83 

Maintaining  the  Balance 83 

Preparing  the  Foot  for  the  Shoe 83 

"  Opening  up  the  Heels  " 84 

Indefensible  Practices 85 

Thinning  out  the  Sole 85 

Trimming  the  Frog 85 

Weight  of  the  Shoe 86 

Form  of  the  Shoe 88 

Setting  the  Shoe 88 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS.  XVii 

PAGE. 

Hot  and  Cold  Fitting 88 

Adaptation  of  trie  Shoe 90 

Fullering  and  PuDching 91 

Concerning  the  Nails 91 

Driving  the  Nails 92 

The  Finished  Work 92 

Sizes  and  Uses  of  Nails 93 

CHAPTER  V. 
Shoeing  Young  Houses — Action  and  Gait. 

Practical  Balance  of  Foot  and  Leg 103a 

A  Cause  of  Unbalanced  Feet 103/ 

Condition  of  Action 104 

Care  Bestowed  in  Colthood lOo 

First  Trial  of  Shoes 105 

Modifications  of  Action lOi) 

Care  of  Horses'  Mouths 107 

Handling  Young  Horses lOS 

Determining  the  Gait • 109 

Regulating  the  Gait 110 

Balancing  the  Action 110 

The  Useful  Gait 112 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Special  and  General  Shoeing. 

Different  Kinds  of  Feet 11-1 

The  Running  or  Galloping  Horse 115 

The  Trotting  Horse 117 

Records  of  Champion  Trotters  from  1806  to  1894 118 

The  Pacing  Horse 121 

The  Racking  Horse 121 

The  General  Purpose  Horse 122 

The  Draft  Horse 123 

Frog  Pressure 127 

Proportions  of  the  Hoof 128 

Resetting  the  Shoes 129 

Gait  of  Speed  Horses •  •  130 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Lameness  and  Diseases  of  the  Foot. 

Pathological  Shoeing 131 

Causation  of  Diseases 132 

Locating  the  Lameness 134 

Laminitis  or  Founder 136 

Primary  or  Passive  Stage 137 

Acute  Stage — Villitis 137 

Chronic  or  Violent  Stage 138 

Complications  of  Laminitis — Dropped  Sole 141 

Peditis,  Periostitis,  Suppuration 142 

Seedy  Toe 143 


XVIU  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Complications  of  Laminitis — Drojiped  Sole 141 

Peditis,  Periostitis,  Suppuration 142 

Seedy  Toe 143 

Dished  Foot 146 

Side  Bones  (Ossified  Cartilages) 147 

Parallel  of  Normal  and  Abnormal  Leg  Bones 148 

Hot  Fitting,  Clips  and  Spurs 151 

Contraction lo4 

Toe  Cracks 159 

Quarter  Cracks , . , IGl 

Corns 1 63 

Navicular  Disease 1 65 

Kaised  or  Twisted  Coronet 108 

Another  Example  of  Peditic  Disorganization 170 

Dished-wheel  Foot 170 

AVheeled  Foot 173 

Defective  Ankle  Joints  or  Knuckling , 174 

Knee  Sprung 176 

Curb 178 

Bone  Spavin 180 

Bog  Spavin 181 

Canker 181 

Foot  Rot  or  Seedy  Toe s 182 

Broken  Bars 185 

Lameness  and  Diseases  of  the  Foot 186 

Abnormal  Feet 188 

CHAPTER  Aail. 
Faults  of  Structure  and  Action. 

Regulated  or  Restricted  by  Shoeing 198 

Faulty  Positions  of  the  Limbs  and  Feet 200 

Care  of  the  Foot  from  Colthood 204 

Splay  Foot — Knee  Hitting 205 

Forging  or  Clicking 208 

Speedy  Cutting 211 

Ankle,  Shin  and  Knee  Cutting 212 

Sprains  of  the  Tendons 213 

Elbow  and  Arm  Cutting 21 4 

Adjustable  Toe  Weight 214 

More  about  Ankle,  Shin  and  Knee  Hitting 216 

Speed  Shoes 217 

Shoes  for  Quarter  Crack 221 

Bate  of  Speed  of  Trotters  and  Pacers 225 


TABLE    OP    CONTEXTS.  XIX 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Specific  and  Remedial  Shoeing.  page. 

Its  Purpose  and  Scope  Delineated 227 

Centennial  Shoe,  Xo.  1 229 

Centennial  Shoe,  Xo.  2 230 

Centennial  Shoe,  Xo.  3 230 

Raised  Spring  Shoe 231 

Scooped  Toe  Rolling-:\Iotion  Shoe 232 

"  Goldsmith  Maid  "  Bar  Shoe 233 

Shoe  to  Prevent  Forging,  etc 233 

Xon-paddling  Shoe 234 

Rolling  Motion  Shoe,  Xo.  1 235 

Rolling  Motion  Shoe,  Xo.  2 236 

Shoe  to  Prevent  Stumbling 236 

Toe  Weight  Shoe 233 

Improved  Toe  Weight  Shoe 238 

Turn-Table  Shoe 239 

Common-Sense  Shoe 240 

Side  Weight  Shoe 242 

Rolling-Motion  Shoe  on  Foot. 242 

Shoes  for  Draft  Horses 243 

Shoe  to  Prevent  Paddling,  Cutting,  etc 244 

Shoe  for  Bruised  Heels,  Corns,  etc 244 

Shoe  to  Balance  and  Slow  Action  of  Trotting  Horses 245 

&hoe  for  Track  and  Road  Horses 246 

Shoe  for  Ankle  Hitting 246 

Shoe  to  Widen  Action 247 

Side-Weight  Shoe  to  Equalize  the  Wearing 248 

Shoe  to  Prevent  Ankle  Cutting 248 

Shoe  for  Curb,  Spavin  and  Sore  Tendons 249 

Shoe  to  Prevent  Bruising  and  Calking 250 

Shoe  to  Prevent  Twisting 250 

Shoe  for  Wheeled  Foot 251 

Scooped-Toe  Rolling  Motion  Shoe 252 

Shoe  for  Line  Trotters,  to  Prevent  Scalping 252 

Bar  Shoe,  for  Line  Trotters 253 

Rasp-Cut  Shoe  to  Prevent  Slipping 253 

Rasp-Cut  Shoe  to  Prevent  Slipping 254 

Raised  Split-Bar  Shoe  for  Contraction,  etc 254 

Scooped-Toe  Grab  Shoe 255 

Center  Bearing  Double  Rolling-Motion  Bar  Shoe 255 

Scooped-Toe  Grab  Shoe  for  Speedy  Cutting 256 

Scooped  Grab-Toe  Bar  Shoe  256 

Three-quarter  Shoe 257 

Shoes  for  Sprained  Tendons  (five  views) 258 

Spreading  Shoe  (two  views) 260 

Shoe  to  Prevent  Dragging  and  Forging 261 

Shoo  to  Prevent  Ankle  Hitting 261 


XX  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 

PAGE, 

Use  and  Abuse  of  Tips 2G2 

Sharpening  or  Winter  Shoeing 263 

All  About  Calks 204 

Bracing  or  Crutch  Shoes 264 

Knuckling  Shoes 269 

Hitching,  its  Cause  and  Cure 274 

CHAPTER  X. 

A  Tableau  of  Horse  Shoes  and  Tools. 

Kg.  1,  Case  and  Description  of  Farriers'  Tools 278 

No.  2,  Case  and  Description  of  Shoes 280  ")  Showing    a     progressive 

Ko.  3,  Case  and  Description  of  Shoes 282  (       series  of   170  different 

No.  4,  Case  and  Description  of  Shoes . 284  [       patterns  of  old  and  new 

No.  5,  Case  and  Description  of  Shoes 286  -'       styles  for  all  purposes. 

A  Case  of  Fine  Horseshoes,  Made  by  Prof.  Wm.  Russell 288 

Russell's  Scieutilic  Foot  and  Heel  Adjusters ".  289 

Russell's  Hand  Vise  for  Hot  Filing  and  Foot  Testers 290 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Useful  Prescriptions. 

Cleansing  the  Feet 292 

Foot  Salve,  for  Various  Diseases,  Wounds,  etc 293 

Liniment  for  Inflammations 294 

Caustic  Wash  for  General  Purposes , 294 

Witch  Hazel  Wash 295 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS.  XXI 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


1.  Model  Light  Horse 24 

2.  Skeleton  of  the  Horse 36 

o.  Bones  of  the  Foot 50 

4.  Muscles,  Tendons,  Ligaments  and  Joints  of  Leg  and  Foot 51 

5.  Median  Section  of  Leg  and  Foot  from  Base  to  Knee 52 

6.  Side  of  Foot  with  Hoof  removed  showing  the  Laminte 53 

7.  Front  of  Foot  with  Hoof  removed  showing  the  Laminae 54 

8.  Internal  Structures  of  Left  Fore  Foot — outer  side 55 

.    9.  Internal  Structures  of  Left  Fore  Foot — inner  side 56 

10.  Internal  Structures  of  Left  Fore  Foot — front 57 

11.  Internal  Structures  of  Left  Fore  Foot — back 58 

12.  Plantar  Face  of  Coffin-bone  and  Insertion  of  Tendon 59 

13.  Plantar  Reticulum — with  Veins,  Nerves,  etc. 60 

14.  Velvety  Tissue  or  Sensitive  Sole  and  Plantar  Cushion 61 

15.  Inside  View  of  Perfect  Hoof 62 

16.  Bed  Plate  of  Russell's  Foot  Adjuster 94 

17.  Side  View  of  Adjuster 94 

18.  Front  View  of  Adjuster 94 

19.  Back  View  of  Adjuster 95 

20.  Russell's  Leveling  Plate 95 

21.  Compass  for  Spanning  the  Hoof,  etc 95 

22.  Position  of  Foot  for  Examination 96- 

23.  Sole  or  Lower  Face  of  Perfect  Foot  Leveled,  etc 97 

24.  Upper  Face  of  Perfect  Foot 98 

25.  Side  of  Perfect  Leg  and  Foot  Leveled  and  Balanced 99 

26.  Transverse  Section  of  Foot  and  Leg 100 

27.  Front  Foot  Shoe  for  General  Purposes 101 

28.  Side  of  Perfect  Foot  Properly  Shod  as  directed 102^ 

29.  Full  Size  Section  of  Perfect  Hoof— showing  Natural  Proportions — with 

Shoe  Properly  Nailed  in  Position 103 

30.  Racing  Plate  for  Running  Horses 116 

31.  English  Seated  Shoe  for  Saddle  Horses 122 

32.  Front  Foot  Shoe  for  Draft  Horses 126 

33.  Hind  Foot  Shoe  for  Draft  Horses 126 

34.  Median  Section  of  a  "  Foundered  "  Foot L39 

35.  Front  Foot  Shoe  for  Dropped  Flat  or  Weak-Soled  Feet 140 

36.  Side  of  Hoof  with  Shoe  Sprung  off  the  Heel 141 

37.  Bottom  View  of  same  Hoof 141 

38.  CofRn-bone  Distorted  by  Laminitis  and  Peditis 142 

39.  Specimen  of  Seedy  Toe 143 


XXU  LIST    OF    ILLUSTEATIONS. 

PAGE.- 

40.  Another  Example  of  Seedy  Toe 144 

41.  The  Same  Hoof  Straightened  on  One  Side 145 

42.  Dished  Foot  and  Dropped  Sole 146 

43.  Side  Bone  or  Ossified  Cartilage 147 

44.  Hoof  from  which  Fig.  43  was  taken 147 

45.  Normal  Position  of  Foot  and  Leg  Bones 148 

46.  Abnormal  Position  of  same 148 

47.  Outside  Appearance  of  Side  Bones 150 

48.  Hoof  of  Draft  Horse  with  Spur  Inside 151 

49.  Bottom  of  same  Hoof  showing  Contraction,  etc 152 

50.  Median  Section  of  Hoof  showing  Spurs,  etc 152 

51.  Upper  Face  of  Coffin-bone  worn  by  Spur,  etc 153 

52.  Contracted  Hoof 155 

53.  Lower  Face  of  Same  Hoof 155 

54.  Median  Section  of  Foot  showing  Effects  of  Contraction 156 

55.  Mule's  Hoof  Overgrown  and  Contracted 158 

56.  Mule  Shoe 158 

57.  Toe  Crack  in  Hoof  Properly  Dressed 159 

58.  Quarter  Crack  in  Hoof  Properly  Dressed  and  Shod 161 

59.  Bottom  of  Hoof  Properly  Shod  for  Quarter  Crack 162 

60.  Inside  of  Hoof  showing  Toe  Corns 164 

61.  Navicular  Disease  as  Indicated  by  the  Hoof 166 

62.  Navicular  Bone  Diseased  (one  half  size) 166 

63.  Bar  Shoe  for  Navicular  Disease 167 

64.  Raised  Coronet  as  seen  from  Back  of  Hoof 169 

65.  Peditis,  or  Chronic  Laminitis  shown  by  Abnormal  Hoof 170 

66.  Median  Section  of  same  Hoof  showing  Structural  Changes 171 

67.  Back  View  of  Hoof  showing  Dished  Quarter  and  Curled  Heel 172 

68.  Side  View  of  Another  Dished  Foot 173 

69.  Side  View  of  Wheeled  Foot 174 

70.  Knuckling  or  Defective  Ankle  Joint 174 

71.  Shoe  to  Prevent  and  Cure  Knuckling 175 

72.  Position  of  Leg  when  Knee  Sprung 176 

73.  Hind  Leg,  Showing  Curb 179 

74.  Same,  Bandaged  and  Shod 179 

75.  Hoof  with  Seedy  Toe,  Shod 184 

76.  Section  of  Hoof  AflTected  witli  Seedy  Too 184 

77.  Disease  of  Coronet 186 

78.  Healthy  Foot  Covei-ed  by  Swab 187 

79.  Felt  Swab 188 

80.  Perfect  Front  Foot 188 

81.  Coffin  Bone — Lateral  View  of  Correct  Position 189 

82.  High  Toe 190 

83.  Coffin  Bone  in  Case  of  Fligh  Toe 190 

84.  High  Heels 191 

85.  Coffin  Bone  in  Case  of  High  Heels 191 

86.  Coffin  Bone— Vertical 192 

87.  Coffin  Bone— out  of  Vertical 192 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS.  XXlll 

PAGE. 

88.  Perfect  Front  Limb  and  Foot rj3 

89.  Front  Limb  and  Toe— Pointing 193 

90.  Result  of  High  Heel 194 

9L  Foot  Properly  Pared 195 

92.  Foot  after  Being  Bandaged  and  Shod 196 

93.  Soaking  Tub 197 

94.  Faulty  Positions  of  Hind  Legs  (side  view) 200 

95.  Faulty  Positions  of  Hind  Legs  (back  view) : 201 

96.  Correct  Positions  of  Hind  Legs  (side  view) 202 

97.  Faulty  Positions  of  Fore  Legs  (front  view) 202 

98.  Faulty  Positions  of  Fore  Legs  (front  view) 203 

99.  Correct  Positions  of  Fore  Legs  (front  and  side) 203 

100.  Shoe  for  Splay  Foot  and  Chronic  Knee  Hitters 208 

101.  Shoe  for  the  Relief  of  Sore  Tendons,  etc 213 

102.  Adjustable  Toe  Weight  (side  view) 215 

103.  Adjustable  Toe  Weight  (ground  tread) 215 

104.  Front  Foot  Shoe,  for  Ankle  or  Shin  Hitting 216 

105.  Hind  Foot  Shoe,  for  ankle  or  Shin  Hitting 216 

106.  Bar  Shoe  for  AVide  IMovement 217 

107.  Record  Breaker  Front  Shoe 218 

108.  Record  Breaker  Hind  Shoe 218 

109.  Record  Breaker— Grab  Shoe 219 

110.  Improved  Grab  Shoe 220 

111.  Shoe  for  Quarter  Crack  Set  on  Well-balanced  Foot 221 

112-113.  Variations  of  same 222 

114.  Quarter  Crack  Shoe  Set  on  Foot 223 

115.  Side  View  of  Foot  Shod  for  Quarter  Crack 224 

116.  Shoe  for  Quarter  Crack 225 

117.  Centennial  Shoe,  No.  1    229 

118.  Centennial  Shoe,  No.  2 230 

119.  Centennial  Shoe,  No.  3 231 

120.  Raised  Spring  Bar  Shoe 231 

121.  Scooped-Toe  Rolling-Motion  Shoe 232 

122.  "  Goldsmith  Maid  "  Bar  Shoe 233 

123.  Shoe  to  Lessen  Knee  Action,  Prevent  Forging,  etc 233 

124.  Non-Paddling  Shoe 234 

125.  Rolling-Motion  Shoe,  No.  1,  for  Knee  Sprung,  Sore  Tendons,  etc 235 

126.  Rolling-Motion  Shoe,  No.  2 236 

127.  Front  Foot  Shoe  to  Prevent  Stumbling,  etc 236 

128.  Front  Foot  Toe-Weight  Shoe  to  Balance  Action 238 

129.  Improved  Toe- Weight  Shoo 238 

130.  Front  Foot  Turn-Table  Shoe,  for  Various  Diseases 239 

131.  Double  Roller  Shoe 240 

132.  Common-Sense  Four-Calk  Shoe,  for  Faulty  Movements 241 

133.  Front  Foot  Side-Weight  Shoe,  for  Ankle  or  Knee  Hitting 242 

134.  Side  of  Foot  with  Roller  Motion  Shoe 242 

135.  Front  Foot  Shoe  for  Draft  Horse 243 

136.  Front  Foot  Shoe  for  Draft  Horse 243 


XXIV  LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE. 

137.  Non-paddling  Shoe,  Ankle  and  Shin  Cutting 244 

138.  Shoe  for  Bruised  and  Ulcered  Heels,  Corns,  etc 244 

139.  Shoe  to  Balance  and  Slow  Action  of  Trotters 245 

140.  Shoe  for  Track  and  Eoad  Horses 246 

141.  Shoe  for  Extreme  Cases  of  Ankle  and  Knee  Hitting 246 

142.  Shoe  to  Widen  tlie  Action  Behind 247 

143.  Hind  Foot  Side-AVeight  Shoe 248 

144.  Hind  Foot  Shoe  for  Ankle  Cutting 248 

145.  Shoe  for  Curh,  Spavin  and  Sore  Tendons 249 

146.  Shoe  to  Prevent  Bruising  or  Calking  the  Coronet 250 

147.  Slioe  with  Calkins  to  Prevent  Twisting 250 

148.  Shoe  for  Wheeled  Foot 251 

149.  Scooped-Toe  Rolling  Motion  Shoe 252 

150.  Slioe  for  Line  Trotters  to  Prevent  Scalping 252 

151.  Bar  Shoe  for  Line  Trotters 253 

152.  Rasp-Cut  Bar  Shoe  to  Prevent  Slipping 253 

153.  Rasp-Cut  Scooped-Toe  Grab  Shoe 254 

154.  Raised  Split-Bar  Shoe  for  Contraction,  etc 254 

155.  Scoop-Toe  Grab  Shoe 255 

156.  Center-Bearing  Double  Rolling-Motion  Bar  Shoe 255 

157.  Scooped-Toe  Grab  Shoe  to  Prevent  Speedy  Cutting 256 

158.  Scooped  Grab-Toe  Bar  Shoe  to  Prevent  Slipping 256 

159.  Three-quarter  Spring  Tongue  Shoe  for  Sand  Cracks,  etc ...  257 

160.  Shoe  on  Hoof  for  Sprained  Tendons,  Wounds,  etc 258 

161.  Modified  Form  of  Same  Shoe 258 

162.  Ground  Surface  of  Shoe,  Fig.  160 259 

163.  Ground  Surface  of  Shoe,  Fig.  161 259 

164.  Foot  Bearing  Surface  of  Shoe,  Figs.  161  and  163 259 

165.  Ground  Surface  of  Spreading  Shoe 260 

166.  Foot  Bearing  Surface  of  Same  Shoe 260 

167.  Shoe  to  Prevent  Dragging  and  Forging 261 

168.  Shoe  to  Prevent  Ankle  Hitting 261 

169.  Right  Front  Bracing  Shoe 264 

170.  Left  Front  Bracing  Shoe 265 

171.  Split  Bar  Shoe 265 

172.  Broad  Bar  Beveled  Shoe 266 

173.  Left  Hind  Shoe 266 

174.  Shoe  to  Correct  Cutting  Inside  Point  of  Toe  267 

175.  Shoe  to  Prevent  Ankle  Hitting 268 

176.  Same 268 

177.  Illustration  of  Knuckling 2G9 

178-179.  Shoe  to  Prevent  Knuckling. 270 

180-181.  Shoes  for  Inner  and  Outer  Contraction 271 

182-183.  Anti-dragging  Shoe  Set  on  Foot 272 

184.  Half  Bar  Shoe  for  Contraction  of  Outside  Heels  and  Quarters 273 

186.  Case  No.  1 .  Improved  Tools  for  Scientific  Horseshoeing 278 

187.  Case  No.  2.  Description  of  Shoes 2S0 

188.  Case  No.  3.  Description  of  Shoes 282 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS.  XXV 

PAGE. 

189.  Case  No.  4.  Description  of  Shoos 284 

190.  Case  No.  5.  Description  of  Shoes 286 

191.  A  Case  of  Fine  Horseshoes,  by  Prof.  Wm.  Eussell 288 

192.  Russell's  Foot  Adjuster 289 

193.  Russell's  Heel  Adjuster 289 

194.  Russell's  Foot  Testers 290 

195.  Russell's  Hand  Vise  for  Hot  Rasping  Shoes 290 


SCIENTIFIC  HORSESHOEING. 


CHAPTER   I.  ^^03{) 

THE  HORSE  IN  GENERAL. 

JUDGING   THE   USEFUL   QUALITIES   OF   LIGHT    HORSES. 

At  the  present  day,  when  the  horse  is  so  universally  em- 
ployed, and  when,  as  a  rule,  each  description  of  work  is  per- 
formed by  an  animal  having  qualities  especially  adapted  for  it, 
most  men  claim  to  be  familiar  with  the  general  characteristics 
that  distinguish  or  mark  the  several  types  of  horses,  but  few  are 
really  qualified  to  make  an  accurate  discrimination  between 
them,  or  have  the  ability  to  recognize  or  to  judge  knowingly  of 
the  "  points  "  of  a  horse  when  it  confronts  them.  This  demands 
a  close  study  of  the  useful  qualities  of  a  horse  in  all  his  spheres 
of  labor,  as  well  as  a  close  knowledge  of  his  vices,  defects,  and 
relative  soundness  in  all  parts,  and  implies  the  possession  of  ripe 
experience,  extensive  observation,  and  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  ideals  that  guide  breeders  in  the  countless  shiftings  of 
their  work  to  suit  the  varying  dictates  of  utility  and  fashion. 
These  attainments  are  rare  and  difficult  possessions.  Previous, 
therefore,  to  making  a  critical  examination  of  the  organs  and 
functions  of  locomotion,  in  their  relation  to  shoeing,  which  is  in- 
tended to  be  the  main  theme  of  this  book,  it  is  best  to  take  a. 
preliminary  view  of  the  horse  at  large,  that  will,  by  a  natural 
and  easy  process,  lead  to  a  discussion  of  the  details  of  the 
subject. 

(25) 


26  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

Ideal  Horss. — The  ideal  type  of  horse  is  the  blending  to- 
gether of  a  great  many,  and  this  may  account  for  the  divergence 
of  opinion-  respecting  it,  for  it  is  only  ideal  in  the  minds  of 
some  ;  each  see  in  part  and  contribute  their  observation,  and  the 
ideal  type  becomes  evolved;  and  it  is  in  knowing  this  type  that 
the  skill  of  the  judge  is  displayed. 

Light  Horses. — It  is  by  patient  labor  that  great  v^'orks  are 
accomplished,  and  this  applies  with  much  force  and  truth  to  the 
American  method  of  breeding  and  training  young  horses  to-day. 
The  trotting  horse  is  distinctively  America's  national  horse  and 
par  excellence  the  light  roadster  of  the  world,  and  has  been 
evolved  from  the  thoroughbred  and  draft  horse  in  a  period  of 
less  than  one  hundred  years,  until  now  he  stands  the  product  of 
the  highest  and  most  perfect  development  of  grace,  speed,  and 
nervous  animal  force.  The  light  horses  of  America  may  be  said 
to  be  included  mostly  under  three  heads — the  roadster,  carriage, 
and  cob;  and  basing  this  division  on  the  sphere  in  which  each 
of  the  types  act,  we  find  the  trotter  the  pure  bred  prototype  of 
the  roadster,  the  coach  breeds  of  Europe  bearing  the  same  rela- 
tion to  the  carriage  horse  of  every-day  occupation,  and  the  hack- 
ney the  progenitor  of  the  cob. 

The  qualities  that  have  the  highest  value  in  the  roadster  are 
speed,  stamina,  and  style;  speed  at  the  trotting  gait,  and  the 
talent  of  making  a  pleasing  display.  Such  a  horse  must  have 
a  free  and  easy  way  of  going,  with  a  spirited  and  graceful  move- 
ment. The  typical  roadster  has  a  well-balanced  stride  and  a 
bigh-headed  straight  movement  that  wastes  no  eftbrt  or  time. 
He  is  not  a  light  horse,  nor  a  heavy  one,  but  has  the  deep  chest, 
round  barrel  and  long-drawn  quarters,  chiseled  limbs,  tense  mus- 
cles, dense  clean  bone,  lean  tendons,  and  refined  appearance  ob- 
servable among  the  best  turf  campaigners. 

The  prominent  peculiarities  of  the  carriage  horse  may  be 
grouped  as  style,  size,  and  substance.     The  sphere  of  the  car- 


THE    HOKSE    IN    GENERAL  27 

riage  horse  is  dilterent  from  the  roadster,  and  the  type  is  tall, 
"vvith  a  muscular,  large-boned,  up  and  outstanding  attitude, 
liaving  the  appearance  of  style  and  a  comparatively  slow 
movement. 

The  cob  is  the  counterpart  of  the  hackney  in  the  common 
current  of  horse  life,  distinguished  by  the  series  of  beautiful 
curves  that  define  the  outline.  The  rotundity  of  the  rib  and  the 
plump  muscular  quarters  and  arched  molding  of  the  neck  are 
influential  features  in  producing  the  appearance.  In  movement, 
the  spirit,  dash,  and  striking  muscular  action  of  the  knees  and 
hocks  impress  the  beholder  with  the  style  it  displays  and  the 
appearance  of  graceful  effort  without  corresponding  speed. 

These  different  types  embrace  also  what  might  be  said  here 
in  description  of  the  different  forms,  and  include  in  a  general 
way  the  three  points  of  size,  symmetry,  and  substance. 

The  carriage  horse  should  be  sixteen  hands,  the  cob  fifteen 
hands  two  inches,  and  the  roadster  has  no  recognized  limits.  It 
is  hard  to  say  to  what  degree  size  adds  to  a  horse's  value. 
Speed  does  not  seem  to  be  always  an  associate  of  size,  but  as  the 
market  runs  it  would  be  advisable  to  give  it  some  consideration 
in  the  roadster  classes. 

126930 

Symmetrical  Qualities. — The  proportions  of  a  horse  for 
symmetry  should  be  such  as  to  make  a  well-balanced  whole. 
The  trotter  has  a  proportion  of  parts  peculiarly  its  own,  and 
likewise  the  other  types,  and  any  deviation  from  these  should 
be  considered.  The  substance  of  a  horse  is  not  solely  related  to 
weight.  It  is  a  consideration  bearing  on  power  and  endurance  ; 
the  density  of  bone,  curve  of  muscle,  and  development  of  the 
vital  organs  are  the  chief  concern,  and  durability  as  connected 
with  these  qualities  is  of  prime  importance  to  all  horses.  The 
term,  good  or  high  quality,  as  applied  to  horses,  is  understood 
to  refer  to  clean-cut  features,  glove-like  skin,  silky  hair,  and 
firm,   clean    bone   and   tendons;   these   are   evidences   of  good 


28  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

healthy  organization  and  valuable  indications  of  power  under 
hard  strains  of  usage. 


Judging  Action.— To  form  a  correct  idea  of  the  action  of 
a  horse,  it  is  necessary  to  observe  it  from  the  front,  at  the  sides, 
and  behind.  As  he  squares  away  from  you,  the  width  and 
straightness  of  the  movement  may  be  noticed.  An  outward 
swing  to  the  hind  limbs,  as  well  as  a  dishing  in  of  the  front 
action,  is  to  be  discountenanced.  As  the  horse  comes  toward 
you,  the  smoothness  of  action  is  made  apparent.  A  wide  chest 
is  usually  connected  with  a  rolling  motion  that  gives  a  horse  an 
awkward  method  of  moving.  From  a  side  view,  it  is  easy  to 
observe  if  the  action  is  balanced,  and  the  knee  action  can  be 
noted.  A  stifi'  knee  action  may  indicate  speed  when  it  is  rapid 
and  gliding,  but  it  is  hard  on  the  fore  legs.  The  front  action 
should  be  such  as  to  give  the  limbs  the  appearance  of  unfolding 
gradually  and  steadily  reaching  out  to  cover  as  much  ground  as 
possible.  Many  horses  have  an  easy,  pleasant  knee  action,  but 
the  fault  hes  in  the  slowness  of  recovery.  In  the  action  of  the 
hind  limbs,  the  style  and  hock  movement  should  be  observed. 
Horses  that  are  long-backed  or  weak-loined  have  a  dwelling 
action  behind  that  is  unpleasing  and  detracts  from  their  speed. 
If  there  is  any  thing  the  matter  with  the  joints  of  a  horse,  it  is 
quickly  disclosed  by  the  irregularity  of  their  action.  Most  in- 
firmities have  a  distinct  influence  on  the  regularity  of  the  move- 
ment. The  walk  is  also  of  great  importance  in  considering  the 
action.  The  horse  should  carry  his  head  well  up  and  his  step 
should  be  lightly  measured  and  deliberate,  his  feet  being  lifted 
clear  of  the  ground  and  placed  down  evenly.  The  hind  and 
fore  limbs  should  work  in  unison,  with  an  elastic,  nervy  move- 
ment that  lifts  some  of  the  soil  with  every  step.  The  flexion  of 
the  hocks  should  be  free  and  straight,  throwing  the  hind  feet 
well  under  the  body. 


THE    HORSE    IX    GENERAL.  29 

Structural  Examination. — The  chief  aim  of  a  critical 
structural  examination  is  to  discover  blemishes  and  any  un- 
soundness of  "  wind  or  limb." 

It  is  of  equal  importance  to  recognize  the  conformation 
that  gives  rise  to  these  diseases.  The  conformation  favorable  to 
the  various  diseases  should  be  as  familiar  to  the  horse  critic  as 
the  appearance  of  the  diseases.  The  structural  examination 
should  begin  at  the  head  and  extend  over  all  regions  systemat- 
ically, so  that  no  parts  may  be  overlooked.  The  shape  of  the 
head  and  the  expression  of  the  countenance  add  to  the  beauty 
and  tell  much  of  the  mind  and  disposition  of  a  horse.  When 
the  line  from  the  poll  to  the  point  of  the  nose  is  almost 
straight,  it  contributes  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  a  horse's  head. 
The  nostrils  should  be  widely  expanded,  as  indicating  well-devel- 
oped respiratory  organs.  The  features  of  the  face  should  be  dis- 
tinct, the  muzzle  fine,  with  breadth  enough  between  the  eyes  to 
give  a  pleasing,  docile,  sensible  appearance,  and  to  mark  the  in- 
dication of  brain  development.  A  large,  bright,  clear,  full  eye 
reflects  a  kind,  courageous  disposition,  with  plenty  of  staying 
power  or  stamina  at  the  bottom.  Active  and  slightly  pointed 
ears  are  indicative  of  unimpaired  hearing  and  an  energetic  dis- 
position. A  lithe,  distinctly-lined  neck  is  one  of  the  most 
pleasing  and  taking  features  of  a  handsome  horse.  It  begins 
with  a  light  throttle  and  swells  smoothly  into  the  shoulders. 
The  wind-pipe  stands  out  large  and  distinct  below,  while  above, 
the  crest  gives  a  fuller  curve  and  more  muscular  development  to 
the  part.  The  chest  should  be  deep  rather  than  broad,  as  giving 
equal  capacity  while  permitting  the  free  play  of  the  shoulder- 
blade  on  the  body.  The  floor  of  the  chest  should  be  low  be- 
tween the  fore  legs,  and  of  good  length  from  the  point  of  the 
chest  to  that  of  the  elbow. 

Muscular  Development. — The  formation  of  the  shoulders 
has  much  to  do  with  the  elasticity  and  quickness  of  the  front 


3U  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

action.  The  length  and  obliquity  of  the  shoulder-blades  are  the- 
influential  features.  A  long  shoulder-blade  implies  long  mus- 
cles, and  these  possess  the  greatest  elasticity.  Short  and  heavy 
muscles  are  productive  of  power  at  the  expense  of  speed.  Up- 
right shoulders  result  in  a  short,  stilted  front  action,  while  slop- 
ing shoulders  give  the  leg  a  far-reaching  motion.  Horses  of 
this  conformation  carry  their  heads  well  and  legs  well  under  the 
body,  that  adds  much  to  their  appearance. 

Front  Limbs. — As  a  whole,  the  front  legs  should  be  rather 
flat  and  cordy,  due  to  properly  attached  tendons.  In  their  pro- 
portions, the  limbs  should  be  long  from  the  elbow  to  the  knee 
and  relatively  short  from  thence  to  the  ground.  It  is  the  upper 
part  that  is  muscular,  the  lower  portion  being  controlled  by  ten- 
dons, and  it  is  desirable  to  have  these  muscles  long  and  the  dis- 
tance over  which  the  tendons  move  short,  that  there  may  be  no 
waste  of  energy  and  a  better  control  over  the  lower  extremities. 

Breadth  and  depth  are  very  desirable  in  the  knee^  that  con- 
cussion may  be  better  distributed  and  carried  ofl".  The  pisi- 
form-bone should  be  sharp  and  prominent,  for  to  it  is  attached 
one  of  the  important  muscles  of  the  fore  limb.  The  cannon 
should  be  short,  flat,  and  clean  of  any  thickness  of  tendon  or 
bone  disease.  A  pastern  of  the  proper  proportions  not  only 
adds  to  the  gracefulness  and  elasticity  of  the  action,  but  to  its 
reach  as  well.  A  slope  of  forty-five  to  fifty  degrees  seems  to  be 
about  right  to  give  the  required  degree  of  strength  and  supple- 
ness. When  the  pastern  is  too  long,  weakness  follows ;  but 
when  right  in  length  and  slope,  there  is  a  combination  of 
strength,  elasticity,  and  gracefulness  beautiful  to  observe. 

When  the  foot  leaves  the  ground  the  pastern  is  bent  back, 
but  when  it  again  touches  the  ground,  it  is  extended  fully  and 
brings  the  foot  down  on  its  heels.  There  is  no  other  part  of 
the  mechanism  of  a  horse  that  does  more  work  and  does  it  with 
less  friction  than  a  sound  and  perfectly  proportioned  pastern. 


•THE    HORSE    IX    GENERAL.  31 

Feet  and  Legs. — It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  say  that  the 
feet  should  receive  the  most  rigorous  and  careful  criticism.  The 
old  maxim,  "  no  foot,  no  horse,"  is  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
more  applicable  to-day  than  wlien  it  was  first  expressed. 

The  perfect  foot  is  of  lirni  texture,  fair  size,  and,  of  course, 
thoroughly  sound  in  all  its  parts.  The  general  healthiness  of 
it  is  denoted  by  the  natural  waxy  appearance  of  the  horny 
fibers,  the  well-formed,  cup-like  sole,  and  the  marks  of  natural 
usage  of  the  spongy  frog  as  a  buffer. 

Flatness  of  sole,  dessicated  or  brittle  walls,  and  contracted 
heels  owing  to  mutilation  of  the  frog,  are  defections  commonly 
met  with,  not  to  say  any  thing  of  the  abnormal  variations  that 
occur  in  the  direction  of  the  axis  of  the  foot.  A  skillful  judge 
may  well  spend  one-half  of  his  allotted  time  on  the  feet  of  the 
horses  undergoing  examination,  to  detect  or  give  tokens  of 
recognition  to  any  defects  of  the  Avail,  to  see  that  the  horn  is 
dense  and  free  from  cracks ;  the  sole,  to  observe  the  absence  of 
any  disease  and  the  presence  of  the  natural  concavity  and  con- 
nections ;  the  heel  to  see  that  the  feet  are  medium  size  and  of 
proper  shape,  the  frog  large  and  wide,  and  the  bars  strong 
and  high. 

The  Trunk. — Passing  onward  the  ribs  claim  attention. 
Round  ribs  that  spring  out  from  the  spine  may  give  the  horse 
the  appearance  of  being  too  long  in  the  legs,  but  they  are 
nevertheless  good  in  point  of  giving  the  greatest  amount  of 
space  to  the  vital  organs.  Close  coupling  to  the  hip  is  strength, 
and  so  is  a  broad  loin  thick  with  layers  of  muscles.  Consider- 
ing the  proportions  of  the  body,  it  is  evident  that  the  shorter  it 
is  above  and  the  longer  it  is  beneath,  the  better  for  the  action. 
This  formation  gives  rise  to  the  approving  term  that  "  he  stands 
over  a  deal  of  ground,"  and  is  associated  with  sloping  shoulders. 
In  such  a  conformation  the  legs  have  free  play,  and  there  is  no 
loss  of  strength. 


32  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

Hind  Limbs. — The  hind  quarters  should  be  scrutinized  as 
to  muscular  development.  From  the  construction  of  the  hind 
quarters,  it  is  observable  that  most  of  the  propelling  power 
comes  from  this  source,  and  though  the  fore  hand  contributes 
in  a  degree,  yet  it  chiefly  supports  the  weight  and  carries  the 
body ;  in  fact,  we  may  almost  compare  the  hind  and  fore  legs 
of  the  horse  to  the  drivers  and  forward  trucks  of  a  locomotive. 
The  shoulder-blade  of  the  fore  leg,  attached  only  by  muscles, 
plays  upon  the  body  loosely,  while  the  hind  limb  is  connected 
to  it  by  a  powerful  ball-  and  socket-joint.  The  muscular  de 
velopment  of  the  hind  legs  should  be  such  as  to  cover  any 
ranginess  of  the  hips,  which  should  also  be  wide  and  level.  The 
croup  from  hip  to  tail  requires  length,  width,  and  muscle  to  give 
it  proportion  and  service.  Long  and  muscular  thighs,  well 
spread  and  open-angled,  provide  for  a  long,  quick  stride.  The 
quarters  require  an  abundance  of  muscle  extending  well  down 
on  the  legs.  Below  this  the  gaskin,  or  lower  thigh,  should  be 
long  so  as  to  let  the  hock  well  down,  and  it  should  also  be  mus- 
cular and  wide.  For  the  hock  to  do  its  work  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage and  remain  free  from  disease,  it  is  necessary  for  it  to  be 
straight,  broad  in  front,  sharp  behind,  and  free  from  any  gum- 
miness.  Experience,  knowledge  and  observation  are  essentials 
to  the  accurate  judgment  of  these  various  points,  as  I  have  al- 
ready indicated.  And  much  more  might  be  written  on  the  sub- 
ject, but  the  foundation  of  facts  which  I  have  thus  far  prepared 
will  be  found  sufficiently  broad,  I  trust,  to  include  whatever  may 
be  necessary  to  insure  a  ready  comprehension  of  the  essential 
matters  involved  in  judging  light  horses  as  most  commonly  pur- 
sued, the  primary  object  being  to  show  that  scrupulous  care 
must  be  constantly  employed  in  the  selection  to  secure  a  good 
representative  of  the  equine  kind. 


BONES    OF    THE    HORSE.  33 


CHAPTER   II. 
BONES  OF  THE   HORSE. 

THE    SKELETON. 

In  the  animal  body,  the  bones  form  an  internal  framework, 
consolidating  the  whole  structure  and  giving  it  general  form 
and  dimensions.  In  their  connection  and  natural  assemblage 
they  constitute  the  skeleton,  and  before  undertaking  a  particular 
description  of  the  foot,  it  is  advantageous  that  a  summary  indi- 
cation of  the  general  principles  of  the  skeleton  of  a  horse 
should  be  known,  in  order  to  better  understand  the  details  of 
the  special  parts  with  which  we  are  afterward  to  have  most  to 
do.  The  skeleton  is  divided  into  the  trunk  and  limbs.  The 
trunk  consists  of  the  spine,  a  series  of  distinct  bones,  jointed 
one  to  another  in  the  middle  upper  part  of  the  trunk  of  which 
it  is  the  essential  portion,  forming  a  flexible  support  to  the  en- 
tire body  from  the  head  to  the  tail ;  and  the  ribs  attached  to  the 
spine  above  and  the  sternum  below,  inclosing  the  thorax  or 
chest  and  viscera. 

The  Limbs. — The  limbs,  four  in  number,  distinguished  as 

the  two  anterior  (or  fore)  and  the  two  posterior  (or  hind),  are 

the  supports  of  the  trunk,  and  are  each    divided   into  several 

parts,  resting  one  upon  another.     Each  limb  has  four  principal 

regions,  those  of   the  front  limbs  being  the  shoulder,  resting 

against  the  front  part  of  the  chest;  the  arm,  next   below  the 

shoulder ;  the  forearm,  succeeding  the  arm  ;  and  the  foot,  the 

end  of  the  limb.     Those  of  the  hind  limbs  are  the  haunch  or 

pelvis,  connected  with  the  hind  part  of  the  spine,  and  the  thigh, 

leg,  and  foot. 

3  (33) 


34  SCIENTIFIC    HOKSESHOEIXG. 

Bones  Detailed. — The  various  ])ones  entering  into  the 
composition  of  the  skeleton  of  an  adult  liorse  are  apportioned 
to  the  regions  of  the  trunk  and  limbs,  as  follows: 

The  spine  or  vertebral  column  consists  of  bones  more  or 
less  regular  in  their  form,  divided  into  five  regions. 

The  cervical,  7  vertebrae,  serving  as  a  base  for  tbe  neck. — 
The  dorsal,  18  vertebrse,  to  which  the  ribs  connect. — The  lumbar, 
6  vertebrse,  supporting  the  loins. — The  sacral,  5  vertebrse,  in  age 
fusing  into  one  bone — the  sacrum. — The  coccygeal,  16  vertebrse, 
decreasing  in  size  to  form  the  tail. 

The  first  cervical  is  called  the  atlas,  being  elevated  above 
the  others,  and  supports  the  head.  The  second  cervical  is  the 
axis,  being  the  center  upon  w^iich  the  atlas  turns.  The  four- 
teenth dorsal  is  the  center  to  which  all  motions  and  weights 
are  referred. 

The  thorax  consists  of  the  eighteen  ribs  on  each  side, 
placed  against  the  dorsal  vertebrse  as  mentioned,  and  resting  by 
their  lower  ends  on  the  sternum,  or  breast-bone,  37  bones  in  all. 

The  head  is  divided  into  two  regions,  the  cranium  and  face. 
It  is  formed  of  28  bones,  which  are  distinct  only  in  young  colts, 
for  when  matured  the  majority  of  these  bones  are  united  and 
can  not  be  separated. 

The  shoulder  has  for  its  base  a  single  bone  on  each  side — 
the  scapula  or  collar-bone — making  2  bones  for  double  region. — 
The  arm  has  also  only  one  bone  to  each  limb — the  humerus — or 
2  for  double  region. — The  forearm  has  2  bones — the  radius  and 
ulna — 4  for  double  region. — The  forefoot,  from  knee  down,  has 
16  bones,  or  32  for  double  region — that  is,  the  pisiform,  cune- 
iform, lunar,  scaphoid,  unciform,  magnum,  and  trapezoid  bones 
form  the  carpus  or  knee,  and  the  cannon-bone  and  two  splints 
form  the  metacarpus,  while  the  phalangeal  or  digital  region  is 
formed  of  the  two  sessamoids,  upper  and  lower  pastern-bones, 
navicular-bone,  and  coffin-  or  pedal -bone. 


BONES    OF    THE    HORSE.  35 

The  pelvis  of  the  back  limbs  is  formed  by  the  union  of  the 
sacrum  and  the  two  ossa  innominata  or  coxfe,  making  for  the 
double  region  2  bones. — The  thigh  has  for  its  base  one  bone — 
the  femur — 2  for  the  double  region. — The  leg  has  for  its  base  3 
bones — the  tibia,  fibula,  and  patella — making  6  for  the  double 
region. — The  hindfoot  bears  a  great  resemblance  to  the  same 
reo^ion  in  front :  6  bones  form  the  tarsus  or  hock — the  astra^a- 
lus,  calcis,  cuboid,  scaphoid,  great  cuneiform,  and  small  cunei- 
form— making  12  for  the  double  region. — The  bones  of  the 
metatarsus  or  shank  are  three  in  number — the  cannon  and  two 
splints — making  6  for  the  double  region. — The  bones  of  the  foot 
or  digital  region  behind  are  the  same  in  number  and  name  as 
those  described  for  this  region  before — two  sesamoids,  two 
pasterns,  navicular,  and  coffin-  or  pedal-bone — making  12  for 
the  double  region.    • 

There  are  four  bones  in  each  ear,  and  the  tongue  is  made 
up  in  five  sections.  Summing  up,  therefore,  we  find  the  bones 
of  the  horse  distributed  in  the  manner  indicated  in  the  following 
table : 

Bones  Enumerated, — Spine  or  vertebral  column  (entire 
length,   but    counting    the    sacral    as    one    bone — the 

sacrum),         .........  48 

Thorax  or  chest, 37 

Head — cranium,  face,  ears,  and  tongue,       .         .         .         .41 

Shoulders,  forearm  and  foot — double  regions,           .         .  40 

Pelvis,  thigh,  hindleg  and  foot — double  regions,          .         .  40 

Teeth, ^    .         .         .  40 


Total,  . 246 

Fig.  2  shows  the  skeleton  of  the  horse  with  the  bones  in 
their  totality  and  natural  relation  to  each  other  enumerated  and 
described. 


36 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


I 


BONES    OF    THE    HORSE. 


37 


DESCRIPTION— ARTIFICIAL  SKELETON  OF  THE  HORSE. 


1.  Cranium  and  upper  jaw. 

2.  Lower  jaw. 

3.  Cervical  vertebrse— Jointed  process  of 
the  neck. 

4-4.  Dorsal  vertebrse— Jointed  process  of 
the  back. 

5-5.  Lumbar  vertebxaj— Jointed  process  of 
the  loins. 

6-6.  Sacrum.  A  consolidation  of  the  five 
sacral  vertobra;,  articulated,  or  jointed  in 
front  with  ihe  last  lumbar,  or  loin,  vertebrae, 
and  behind  with  the  first  coccygeal  bone; 
and  on  the  sides  with  the  coxse,  the  bones 
which,  with  the  sacrum,  form  the  pelvis  or 
haunch. 

7-7.  Coccygeal  vertebrse— Jointed  process 
extending  from  sacrum  backward. 

8.    Sub-trochanterian  crest. 

9-9.    Sternal  or  true  ribs. 

10-10.     Cartilages  of  true  ribs. 

11-11.    Asternal,  or  false  ribs. 

12-12.    Cartilages  of  false  ribs. 

13.  Scapula,  or  collar  bone. 

14.  Fourteenth  Dorsal  Vertebra — The 
axis  upon  which  the  carcass  is  hung. 

15.  Radius— Forearm. 

16.  Ulna,  or  elbow. 

17.  Pisiform,  or  pea-shaped  bone. 

18.  Cuneiform,  or  wedge-shaped  bone. 

19.  Lunar  bone. 

20.  Trapezoid,  or  table  bone. 

21.  Magnum,  or  large  bone. 

22.  Scaphoid,  or  cradle  bone. 

23.  Unciform.  This,  with  the  last  six 
named,  make  up  the  carpus  or  knee  of  the 
front  limb. 

24.  Metacarpal,  or  cannon  bone. 
25-26.    Splint  bones,  two  on  each  leg. 
27-28.    Sesamoid  bones,  two  on  each  leg. 

29.  Large,  or  upper  pastern  bone. 

30.  Small,  or  lower  pastern  bone. 

31.  Pedal,  coffin,  or  foot  bone. 

32.  Wings  of  coffin,  or  foot  bone. 


33-36  and  34-35.    Coxte— these  bones  with 
the  sacrum  form  the  pelvis. 
37.    Femur,  or  thigh  bone. 

Tibia,  large  leg  bone. 

Calcis. 

Astralagus. 

Scaphoid  or  cradle  bone. 

Cuneiform,    or  large    wedge-shaped 


38. 

39. 

40. 

41. 

42. 
bone. 

43. 

44. 
bone. 


Cuboid,  or  cube  bone. 
Little    cuneiform,    or   wedge-shaped 
This,  with  the  last  five  named,  form 
the  tarsus,  or  hock,  of  the  hind  limbs. 
45.    Metatarsal,  or  cannon  bone. 
46^7.    External  and  internal  splint  bones. 

48.  Humerus,  or  arm  bone. 

49.  Fibula  annexed  to  tibia  (88). 

A.  Molars. 

B.  Canine  teeth,  or  tusks. 

C.  Incisors. 

E.  Atlas — First  vertebra,  or  joint  of  neck, 
articulating  or  jointing  immediately  with 
the  occipital  or  head  bone,  and  sustaining 
the  head.    Hence  its  name. 

G.  Orbit— Cavity  in  which  the  eye  is  situ- 
ated. 

M.  Cariniform  cartilage  of  head  of  hu- 
merus (48). 

N.  Ensiform  or  sword-shaped  cartilage 
of  ulna  (16). 

O.     Coracoid  process  of  scapula  (13). 
Spine,  or  ridge  of  scapula  (13). 
Cartilage  of  prolongation  of  scapula 


P. 

Q. 

(13). 
R. 

S. 


External  trochanter  of  humerus  (48). 
Sternum,  or  breast  bone   supporting 
the  ribs. 

T.     Trochlea,    a    pulley -like   process    of 
femur  (.37). 
U.    External  condyle  of  femur  (37). 
V.    Patella,  or  stifle  annexed  to  femur  (37). 
W.    Hock  joint. 
X.    Major  trochanter  of  femur  (37). 


38  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


CHAPTER  III. 
THE  FOOT  OF  THE  HORSE. 

LOCOMOTORY   APPARATUS. 

The  Subject  Defined, — The  object  of  this  chapter  is  to 
pass  in  concise  review,  the  organs  or  apparatus  controlling  or 
ministering  to  the  function  of  locomotion  in  the  horse,  certainly 
one  of  the  most  important  in  the  economy  of  the  animal,  by  the 
necessary  co-operation  it  affords  the  other  organs  and  appara- 
tuses in  the  performance  of  their  natural  properties  and  func- 
tions, and  similarly  one  of  primary  importance  in  approach- 
ing the  study  of  its  conditions  in  health  and  disease.  For 
these  reasons,  then,  a  clear  understanding  of  the  foot  in  general 
is  absolutely  essential  to  every  horseman  and  farrier,  if  they 
would  profit  by  its  harmonious  action  and  acquire  practical 
working  ideas  of  the  relation  of  its  parts  and  the  mode  of  their 
co-operation,  to  be  remembered,  applied  and  utilized. 

Motion  in  General. — The  locomotory  apparatus  is  com- 
posed of  two  kinds  or  systems  of  organs — the  bones  and  mus- 
cles. The  bones  are  the  hard,  passive  portions,  with  joints  and 
movable  articulating  surfaces  providing  for  the  necessary  play 
in  their  relative  positions.  The  muscles,  grouped  around  the 
bones,  are  the  active  portions  of  the  movement — the  motor 
engines  of  the  limbs,  in  fact — being  firmly  attached  to  the  bones 
at  certain  determinate  points,  either  directly  or  by  tendons, 
which  contract  upon  the  organs  to  be  moved,  and  produce  the 
different  postures  and  various  gaits  of  the  living  animal. 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE.  39 

The  Limbs  in  General. — The  bony  sections  which  com- 
pose the  limbs  are  destined  both  for  the  support  of  the  trunk 
and  for  its  transport  during  progression.  This  double  purpose 
marks  a  distinction  between  the  fore  and  hind  members.  The 
front  limbs,  being  nearest  the  center  of  gravity,  have  to  sustain 
most  of  the  body  weight,  and  are  therefore  specially  organized 
for  this  service.  Thus,  the  scapula,  or  shoulder-bone,  is  at- 
tached only  by  muscles  to  the  trunk,  and  the  weight  transmitted 
through  them  passes  to  the  vertical  bones  of  the  leg  below, 
which  sustain  the  pressure  without  muscular  assistance,  but 
when  it  is  finally  thrown  on  the  oblique  bones  of  the  foot,  at 
the  angle  of  the  fetlock,  nature  has  provided  strong  muscular 
bands  for  their  support  and  maintenance. 

The  hind  limbs  more  especially  play  the  part  of  propelling 
agents  in  the  locomotory  acts,  and  are  joined  in  an  angular 
manner  to  the  different  regions  and  by  direct  bony  connection 
of  the  pelvis  with  the  vertebral  column,  as  may  be  seen  by 
glancing  at  the  skeleton,  Fig.  2.  Muscular  agency  is  there- 
fore necessary  to  support  these  columns,  but  notwithstanding 
the  difference  in  functions  assigned  these  limbs,  they  offer 
striking  resemblances  to  each  other,  and  what  remains  to  be 
said  of  one  is  to  be  considered  applicable  alike  to  all. 

The  Foot  in  General. — The  limits  of  this  region  are  cus- 
tomarily held  to  extend  from  the  lower  end  of  the  cannon  or 
shank-bone,  to  the  coffin-  or  pedal-bone,  inclusive,  possessing 
the  elements  of  a  single  digit  inclosed  in  one  hoof.  Approach- 
ing a  little  nearer,  we  will  proceed  with  the  subject,  from 
within  to  without,  by  first  glancing  at  the  parts  contained  in 
the  hoof,  returning  afterward  to  a  description  of  the  horny 
case  itself. 

The  parts  contained  in  the  hoof  may  be  given  thus :  1.  The 
pedal-  or  coffin-bone,  and  the  navicular-bone,  and  the  lower  end 
of  the  small  pastern,  forming  the  articulation  of  the  foot.     2. 


40  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING.  . 

The  ligaments  binding  this  joint.  3.  The  terminations  of  the 
tendons  that  flex  and  extend  the  foot  from  their  insertions  in  the 
coflin-bone.  4.  The  soft  structures  of  the  foot.  5.  The  sen- 
sitive structures,  including  the  vessels  and  nerves  of  this  region. 

Bones  of  the  Foot. — In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  it  is 
customary  to  include  in  each  complete  digit  the  ankle,  and 
fetlock,  as  constituting  the  apparent  foot  of  a  horse.  The 
bones  of  this  region  are  then  divided  into  three  sections — 
reckoning  from  above  to  below — placed  end  to  end  one  upon 
another,  which  are  termed  the  phalanges.  The  first  com- 
prises the  large  or  upper  pastern-bone  and  the  two  sesa- 
moids, which  unite  with  the  lower  head  of  the  cannon-bone 
in  forming  the  pastern-joint.  The  second  phalanx  is  composed 
of  the  small  or  lower  pastern  and  by  its  contact  with  the  upper 
pastern  makes  the  pastern-joint.  The  third  and  last  phalanx, 
terminating  the  limb,  consists  of  the  pedal-  or  coflin-bone  and 
the  navicular-bone,  which  unite  with  the  lower  end  of  the  small 
pastern  in  forming  the  pedal-  or  coflin-joint.  These  bones  are 
situated  in  an  oblique  direction  downward  and  forward,  and 
form  the  extremity  of  the  digit  upon  which  the  soft  structures 
of  the  foot  are  built,  as  shown  in  Fig.  3  and  5. 

The  Pedal-  or  Coffin-bone. — The  third  phalanx  of  the  foot 
has,  from  the  earliest  times,  most  occupied  the  attention  of 
observers,  owing  to  its  greater  liability  than  any  bone  of  the 
extremities  to  injury  from  casualties  natural  to  its  peculiar  situa- 
tion and  uses.  It  is  the  base  upon  which  the  entire  foot  is 
constructed,  sustaining  the  hoof  that  incloses  it  as  it  fixes  itself  on 
the  ground,  and  acting  as  the  point  of  leverage  in  receiving 
and  applying  the  power  involved  in  the  movement  of  the  limb. 
It  is  a  very  hard  bone,  very  finely  poroused  with  numerous 
perforations  and  channels  for  the  penetration  of  blood-vessels 
and   nerves  supplying   the   enveloping  tissues.     Its  lower  bor- 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE.  41 

der  swells  forward  in  a  half-circle  and  obliquely  up'ward  to  a 
pyramidal  eminence  in  its  middle,  on  the  front  face  of  which  is 
inserted  the  attachments  of  the  principal  extensor  tendon  of  the 
foot,  as  shown  in  Fig.  4  and  colored  plates. 

The  under  face  is  hollowed  out  like  an  arch,  corresponding 
to  the  sole  of  the  hoof,  and  here  the  terminal  tendon  of  the  deep 
flexor  of  the  foot — the  flexor  perforans — is  inserted  into  the 
semi-lunar  crest,  widening  in  a  remarkable  manner  over  the 
median  imprints,  as  shown  in  Fig.  12. 

There  are  two  lateral  wings  to  this  bone  directed  back- 
ward, on  the  summit  of  w^hich  the  lateral  cartilages  of  the  foot 
are  implanted. 

Bones  and  their  Articulations. — In  all  those  situations 
which  have  to  sustain  violent  eflbrts,  the  substance  of  the  bones 
is  found  to  be  very  compact,  formed  of  a  proper  tissue,  covered 
outside  with  a  tough,  elastic  membrane — the  periosteum — and 
are  abundantly  supplied  with  blood-vessels  and  nerves  for  their 
nutritive  movement.  On  their  articular  surfaces — between  the 
opposing  heads  or  facets  combining  in  the  joints — they  are  cov- 
ered with  layers  of  elastic  cartilage,  which  are  of  the  greatest 
importance  in  the  smooth  gliding  movements  of  the  bones  and 
in  the  reduction  of  shocks  and  articular  friction.  AVhen  they 
are  worn  or  transformed  into  bone,  in  consequence  of  cer- 
tain articular  maladies,  the  movements  become  painful  and  very 
difficult. 

Ligaments  and  Lubricants. — The  structures  whose  ofiice 
is  to  brace  and  maintain  the  joints  in  contact  and  unite  the 
movable  surfaces  are  the  ligaments.  These  are  powerful  auxil- 
iaries of  the  muscular  forces,  give  permanent  equilibrium  to 
the  weight,  and  secure  the  firm  and  effective  working  of  the 
articular  surfaces.  A  serous  membrane  covers  the  internal 
face  of  the  ligaments,  which  secretes   the  synovia,  a  kind  of 


42  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

animal  oil  that  facilitates  the  gliding  of  the  articular  surfaces 
and  tendons.  It  is  the  vital  lubricant  of  the  living  machine,  and 
its  use  in  the  animal  economy  is  identical  with  that  of  other 
greasy  substances  employed  to  lubricate  mechanical  bearings. 
See  colored  plates. 

Muscles  of  the  Foot  and  Leg. — Following  the  indication 
given  of  the  passive  organs  of  locomotion,  the  bony  levers  and 
their  joints,  comes  a  reference  to  the  active  agents  whose  func- 
tion it  is  to  move  them.  These  are  the  muscles,  and  form,  gen- 
erally speaking,  the  fleshy  covering  surrounding  ilie  bony 
frame-work  and  grouped  around  and  attached  to  the  bones  of 
the  extremities. 

The  situation  and  direction  of  the  muscles  are  important 
features  to  be  acquired  with  regard  to  their  arrangement  and 
use  in  communicating  motion  to  the  leg  and  foot,  for  it  allows 
the  determination  of  the  angle  of  incidence  of  a  muscle  on  its 
arm  of  the  lever,  the  relation  of  its  principal  axis  to  the  vertical 
line,  and  its  comparison  with  the  axis  of  the  bony  lever  which  it 
moves.  If  the  direction  of  the  muscles  be  compared  with  that 
of  the  bones  of  the  limb  that  they  move,  it  will  be  found  that 
they  are  parallel  to  these  levers,  and  the  proper  direction  of  the 
bones  being  known  to  be  rectilinear,  that  is,  their  principal  axis 
being  straight  or  parallel  to  the  median  plane  of  the  body,  it  is 
sufficient  to  indicate  that  of  the  muscles  to  clearly  establish  this 
comparison.  Undoubtedly  the  most  essential  part  of  the  study 
of  the  muscles  is  their  attachments  or  insertions,  for  with  this 
knowledge  we  may  determine  their  extent  and  direction,  and 
even  their  relations  and  uses.  The  principal  muscles  of  the 
extremities  have  fixed  insertions  of  a  cordy  structure  known  as 
tendon  or  sinew.  The  superficial  muscles  are  only  related  to 
the  bones  by  their  extremities,  while  the  deep  muscles  are  ap- 
plied by  their  bodies  directly  against  the  bones  of  the  skeleton. 
Three  principal  tendons  serve  to   move  the  bones  of  the  foot. 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE.  43 

Two  of  these  flex  or  bend  the  joints  while  the  other  straightens 
the  column  of  bones  thus  displaced.  The  superficial  flexor  of 
the  foot  is  the  flexor  perforatus,  which  is  attached  to  the  sides  of 
the  lower  pastern-bone  and  flexes  the  ankle  at  the  fetlock.  The- 
deep  flexor  of  the  foot  is  the  flexor  perforans,  inserted  into  the 
bottom  of  the  coffin-bone,  whence  it  bends  the  coffin-joint  and 
with  it  the  whole  foot.  The  front  extensor  tendon  of  the  foot 
is  attached  to  the  pyramidal  process  of  the  coffin-bone.  There 
are  many  other  minor  muscles,  fixed  and  movable,  connected 
with  the  cannon,  splints,  and  other  bones  of  the  limb,  which  as- 
sist in  the  various  movements  and  in  their  degree  relieve  the 
controlling  muscles  of  a  share  of  the  stress  of  weight,  as  well  as 
of  whatever  force  or  stain  is  brought  to  bear  upon  them.  See 
Fig.  4  and  colored  plates. 

Soft  Tissues. — The  bones,  ligaments  and  muscles  of  tne 
foot  are  covered  by  a  loose  connective  tissue,  which  gives  sym- 
metry to  the  parts,  and  all  are  protected  by  the  external  cover- 
ing of  skin  and  horn  tissues.  I  have  already  mentioned  that  in 
connection  with  the  coffin-bone  there  is  a  supplementary  appa- 
ratus of  cartilage  formation.  This  is  composed  of  two  lateral 
pieces,  representing  a  thin  flat  plate  on  each  side,  of  a  fibrous 
elastic  substance,  pierced  with  openings  for  the  passage  of  veins 
and  nerves  of  the  digital  region.  They  are  united  behind  and 
below  to  the  plantar  cushion,  and  in  front  cover  the  articulation 
of  the  coffin-joint  and  synovial  sac,  blending  into  the  ligaments 
at  that  point.  These  cartilages  are  adapted  to  act  as  pads  in 
easing  shocks  caused  by  exertions  of  the  foot,  but  it  often 
happens  that  they  undergo  changes  and  are  invaded  by  an 
ossifying  process  which  converts  them  into  bone,  as  explained 
in  a  subsequent  chapter. 

The  coronary  cushion  is  a  continuation  of  the  skin  and 
forms  an  intermediate  juncture  between  it  and  the  wall  of  the 
hoof,  of  which  it  is  the  matrix.     It  occupies  a  groove,  called 


44  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

the  cutigeral  cavity,  at  the  upper  border  of  the  horny  wall, 
and  forms  a  rounded  prominence  of  dense,  thick  fibers,  and 
assists  in  the  elastic  action  of  the  cartilages  and  laminar  tissues. 
Its  surface  is  tufted  with  villi  and  shows  a  considerable  number 
of  nerves  and  blood-vessels  which  branch  throuo'h  its  sub- 
stance  and  secrete  the  horny  tissue  of  the  wall.  Around  its 
upper  border  is  a  narrow,  lip-like  margin  called  the  perioplic 
ring,  from  which  exudes  the  periople — the  natural  horny  var- 
nish of  the  wall.  The  coronarv  cushion  mino;les  with  the  in- 
ternal  tissues  of  the  foot  and  becomes  continuous  with  the 
bulbs  of  the  sensitive  frog.     See  colored  plates. 

Sensitive  Tissues. — The  sensitive  frog,  or  plantar  cushion, 
is  a  thick,  wedge-shaped  mass  of  fibrous  structure  of  fine 
elastic  pulp  situated  beneath  and  behind  the  foot  bones  (to 
which  it  is  attached)  and  between  the  back  tendons  (which  it 
supports)  and  the  lower  part  of  the  hoof.  It  is  lodged  in  the 
fissures  of  the  horny  frog,  receiving  the  spur  or  frog  stay  in  the 
middle  of  its  pyramidal  body,  which  thus  divides  it  into  two 
diverging  bulbs  exactly  like  that  of  the  outer  frog  to  which  it 
corresponds.  At  the  point,  or  apex  in  front,  it  becomes  con- 
tinuous with  the  sensitive  sole,  and  at  the  sides  is  attached  to 
the  lower  edges  of  the  cartilages.  The  base,  formed  by  the 
bulbs  behind,  is  inclined  upward,  and  mixes  its  fibers  with  the 
cartilages  and  coronary  cushion.  Numerous  blood-vessels  and 
nerves  complete  this  structure.     See  colored  plates. 

The  sensitive  sole,  or  velvety  tissue,  is  the  formative  organ  of 
the  horny  sole  and  frog.  It  is  much  thinner  than  the  plantar 
cushion,  and  extends  over  or  under  the  entire  plantar  region  as 
well  as  the  plantar  cushion,  which  it  covers  by  adapting  itself 
to  the  inequalities  of  this  elastic  mass.  This  tissue  shows  the 
same  structure  as  the  coronary  cushion,  with  the  extremities  of 
which  it  unites  on  the  bulbs  of  the  frog  continuing  above  the 
laminpe  on  the  bars.     The  surface  of  this  tissue  is  studded  with 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE.  45 

villi,  similar  to  those  on  the  coronary  cushion,  which  penetrate 
into  and  supply  the  horny  sole  and  frog,  and  in  its  meshes  are 
sustained  the  veins  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  foot.  See  col- 
ored plates. 

Continuous   with  the   sensitive  sole   (and  resembling  it   in 
structure),  and  spreading  over  the  entire  outer  or  upper  face  of  the 
cotiin-bone  until  it  is  merged  into  the  projecting  substance  of 
the  coronary  cushion,  is  a  villous  sheath,  called  the  keratogenous 
membrane  or  laminal  tissue,  which  completes  the  sensitive   en- 
velopes of  the  extremity  of  the  digit.     This  laminal   tissue  ex- 
hibits on  the  external  face  of  the   coflin-bone  a  series  of  fine 
elastic  leaves,  called  the  sensitive  laminae,  which  lie  in  parallel 
rows,  to  the  number  of  five  or  six  hundred,  running  from  above 
to  below,  separated  by  narrow,  somewhat   deep   channels,  into 
which   are  dovetailed  similar  horny  leaves  from   the  wall  and 
bars  of  the  hoof.     This  leafy  tissue  is  intimately  attached  to  the 
cofiin-bone  through  the  medium  of  the  reticulum,  which  also 
supports  the  veins  that  supply  its   secretion.     Like  the  other 
vascular  tissues,  it  is  very  richly  supplied  with  blood-vessels  and 
nerves,  and  is  at  once  the  seat  of  acute  sensation  and  the  point 
where  the  active  changes   of  inflammation — villitis    and  lami- 
nitis — are  especially  concentrated,  becoming  morbidly  increased 
through  the  effects  of  bad  shoeing,  hard  pulling,  or  driving  and 
other  like  abuses.     These  parts  are,  in  fact,  the  principal  instru- 
ments concerned  in  the  sensory  apparatuses  of  the  horse's  foot, 
and  the  sensitive  laminse  play  a  most  important  mechanical  part 
in   concurring,  by  their  dovetailing  with  the  horny  laminae,  in 
securing  the  solidity  of  the  hoof  with  the  living  parts  as  well  as 
in   supporting  the  weight  of  the  animal,  which  is   distributed 
through  them  upon  the  base  of  the  wall.     See  colored  plates. 

Circulation  of  the  Foot. — As  we  have  indicated  in  the 
foregoing  analysis,  all  the  soft  or  sensitive  tissues  of  the  foot  are 
freely    supplied  with  blood,   in   greater   or  less  quantities,  de- 


46  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

pending  upon  the  function  which  the  tissue  has  to  perform. 
If  this  is  great,  as  in  the  more  sensitive  parts  of  the  foot,  a  large 
amount  of  blood  is  required,  if  the  labor  is  a  less  exciting  one, 
as  in  the  cartilages,  and  ligaments  or  membranes,  the  nutrition 
is  furnished  by  imbibing  the  fluids  brought  to  the  surface  by 
blood-vessels.  The  blood  is  carried  from  the  heart  to  the  vari- 
ous organs  by  the  arteries  or  their  small  terminations,  and  is 
named  red  or  arterial  blood.  The  veins  of  sfeneral  circulation 
bring  the  nutritive  fluid  back  to  the  heart,  and,  according 
to  its  tint,  it  is  named  dark  colored  or  venous  blood.  Both 
systems  present  at  their  extremities  innumerable  branches, 
which  finally  join  each  other,  so  that  the  fluid  they  carry 
passes  from  one  to  the  other  in  a  constant  or  circular  di- 
rection. Between  the  two  are  small  delicate  networks  of  ves- 
sels called  capillaries,  which  subdivide  into  a  regular  lacework 
so  as  to  reach  the  neighborhood  of  every  element. 

Nerve  Supply. — The  amount  of  blood,  under  normal  con- 
ditions is  governed  by  nerves  of  the  sympathetic  system 
which  regulate  the  conditions  of  repose  and  activity.  The 
nerves  issue  from  the  cranium  and  branch  into  all  the  organs 
like  the  arteries  which  they  generally  accompany.  They  fur- 
nish the  stimulus  to  animal  life,  and  in  the  digits  are  the 
essential  instruments  of  touch  or  sensation.  Three  branches 
of  the  internal  and  external  plantar  nerves  furnish  the  foot  on 
each  side,  and  accompany  the  digital  artery  and  vein,  which  at 
some  points  they  cover  with  their  divisions.  The  order  of  their 
distribution  and  termination,  together  with  that  relating  to 
the  circulatory  system  of  the  foot  generally,  will  be  clearly 
comprehended  by  a  glance  at  the  several  colored  plates  illus- 
trating this  section. 

Horny  Tissues. — The  hoof  of  the  horse — considered  as  a 
whole — represents  the  horny  outer  covering,  completing  the  ex- 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE.  47 

tremity  of  the  digit.  It  answers  to  the  same  natural  purpose  as 
the  nail  in  man,  by  protecting  the  sensitive  parts  beneath.  It 
is  united  most  intimately  with  the  internal  tissues  by  the  in- 
terlocking processes  of  the  surfaces  in  contact,  and  is  made  up 
of  three  portions — the  wall,  sole  and  frog. 

The  Wall. — The  wall  is  that  portion  visible  when  the  foot 
rests  on  the  ground,  the  middle  of  which  is  termed  the  toe, 
the  adjoining  fronts  of  face  are  the  inside  and  outside  toes, 
while  the  side  regions  are  the  quarters,  the  back  extremities  are 
the  heels,  which  fold  underneath  and  terminate  in  the  bars. 
These  parts  are  all  continuous,  diminishing  in  height  and  thick- 
ness from  toe  to  heels,  and  all  are  lined  with  the  horny  leaves 
referred  to.  The  bars  are  separated  from  the  frog  by  lateral 
excavations  called  commissures,  until  they  gradually  fuse  into 
sole.  They  form  a  lateral  brace  to  the  heels,  limiting  expan- 
sion and  opposing  contraction  in  these  parts.  The  outside 
of  the  upper  border  is  hollowed  out,  forming  the  cutigeral 
cavity  of  the  coronary  cushion  and  perioplic  ring. 

126930 

The  Sole. — The  sole  incloses  the  hoof  on  the  ground  sur- 
face, between  the  wall  and  bars,  with  which  it  is  united  through- 
out its  extent.  Its  upper  surface  corresponds  with  the  sen- 
sitive sole,  showing  the  pores  receiving  the  velvety  tufts,  and  its 
external  face  is  more  or  less  concave  according  to  circumstances. 
It  IS  a  thick  horny  plate,  scaling  oft"  after  a  certain  natural 
growth,  and  is  designed  to  cover  and  protect  the  internal  foot. 

The  Frog. — Between  the  A  shaped  angle  formed  by  the 
inflection  of  the  bars  at  the  heels,  the  frog — a  prominent  mass 
of  spongy  horn — is  lodged.  It  is  wedge-shaped,  with  its  point 
near  the  center  of  the  sole,  to  which  it  closely  adheres  along 
its  lines  as  they  diverge  backward,  where  it  becomes  contin- 
uous with  the  coronary  band.     The  frog  is  separated  into  two 


48  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

external  branches  by  a  median  cleft,  each  branch  forming  a 
rounded  elastic  eminence  at  the  heels  where  they  cover  the 
angles  of  inflection  of  the  wall.  The  internal  face  of  the  frog 
is  indented  with  pores  like  the  sole,  and  is  molded  to  conform 
to  the  body  of  the  sensitive  frog,  having  a  triangular  fissure 
divided  into  two  channels  by  a  spine  or  ridge-like  spur,  called 
the  frog-stay,  into  and  over  which  the  sensitive  frog  is  bedded. 
The  frog,  like  the  sole,  exfoliates  or  scales  off  by  usage  and 
growth,  and  is  the  natural  buffer  of  a  healthy  foot  when  al- 
lowed to  come  in  contact  with  the  srround. 


iD' 


Development  of  the  Hoof. — The  horny  substance  consti- 
tuting the  hoof  of  a  horse  is  of  a  fibrous  nature,  formed  of  mi- 
nute hair-like  tubes,  cemented  together  by  a  tenacious  opaque 
matter,  taking  its  general  color  from  the  skin  of  the  limb  to 
Avhich  it  adjoins  ;  the  inner  face  of  the  wall,  however,  is  al- 
ways of  a  light  tint.  The  horny  tissue  of  the  hoof,  being  a  de- 
pendency of  the  skin,  is  developed  like  it;  that  is,  by  cells  in 
rows  and  layers.  The  perioplic  ring  forms  the  beriople;  the 
coronary  cushion,  the  wall,  and  the  velvety  tissue,  the  sole  and 
frog.  The  consistence  of  the  horn  in  the  wall  is  dense,  solid 
and  compact,  while  that  of  the  sole  and  frog  is  of  a  scaly, 
spongy  nature.  The  growth  of  the  wall  of  the  hoof  is  constant 
or  indeflnite,  but  the  sole  and  frog,  after  attaining  a  certain 
thickness,  exfoliate  and  fall  off,  unless  prevented  by  shoes  from 
maintaining  their  natural  flexibility.    See  colored  plates. 

It  may  here  be  noted  that  the  angle  of  wall  of  the  hoof  in 
front  varies  from  forty-five  to  fifty-six  degrees.  The  inner  face 
of  the  wall  at  the  middle  of  the  toe  is  in  line  with  the  frog-stay, 
and  in  mules  frequently  shows  a  more  or  less  prominence  of  base 
toward  the  lower  margin  of  wall,  which  corresponds  to  a  ver- 
tical depression  in  the  coffin-bone,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that 
it  serves  the  same  purpose  as  the  frog-stay — to  maintain  the  posi- 
tion of  the  coffin-bone,  and  prevent  its  rotation  within  the  hoof. 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE.  49 

Importance  of  the  Subject. — The  foot  of  the  horse  is  an 
extremely  important  study  because  of  the  numerous  diseases 
which  affect  this  region,  but  what  I  have  said,  in  thus  review- 
ing the  structure  and  normal  condition  of  the  essential  organs; 
of  locomotion,  will  probably  be  sufficient  to  include  whatever 
may  be  necessary  to  insure  a  ready  comprehension  of  the 
other  essential  matters  which  are  to  follow,  and  facilitate  a  clear 
understanding  of  the  requirements  necessary  to  that  perfection 
and  regularity  which  characterize  the  natural  performance  of  the 
various  movements  of  the  horse. 

So  long  as  the  bones  muscles  and  tendons;  the  joints  with 
their  ligaments,  cartilages  and  their  synovial  structure ;  the 
nerves  and  the  controlling  influences  which  they  exercise  over 
all,  with  the  blood-vessels  which  distribute  to  every  part  the 
vitalizing  fluid  which  sustains  the  whole  in  being  and  activity — 
so  long  as  these  various  constituents  and  adjuncts  of  animal  life 
preserve  their  physiological  functions,  locomotion  will  continue 
to  be  performed  with  perfection  and  efficiency.  Other  points 
of  pathological  interest,  relating  to  obstruction  or  misdirection 
and  lack  of  balance  in  certain  portions  of  the  locomotory  appara- 
tus, will  receive  due  attention  as  we  proceed  with  the  illustration 
of  our  subject  and  examine  the  matters  which  it  most  concerns 
us  to  bring  under  consideration. 


50 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


A,  Pedal-  or  coffin-bone — 
third  phalanx  terminating 
the  foot. 

B,  Extremity  of  navicular 
bone. 

C,  Small  or  lower  pastern 
bone — second  phalanx. 

D,  Large  or  upper  pastern 
bone — first  phalanx. 

E,  Pyramidal  process  on 
coffin-bone,  which  gives  in- 
sertion to  the  tendon  of  the 
front  extensor  of  the  foot, 
and  which  braces  the  joint 
by  preventing  the  pastern 
from  slipping  too  far  forward. 

F,  Basilar  process  of  wing 
to  which  the  lateral  cartilage 
is  attached. 

Fig.  3.  side  view  of  the  phalangial  sections  G,  Irregular  ridge  above 
OF  THE  foot,  showing  THE  BONES  OF  THE  DIGITAL  the  retrorsal  process  or  pre- 
KEGioN  in  THEIR  NORMALRELATiONSTO EACH  other,   plantar      fissure       throuf^h 

which  passes  the  lateral 
laminal  and  preplantar  un- 
gual arteries  and  their  satel- 
lite nerves. 

The  lower  face  of  this  bone  is  arched,  and  intt)  its  crest  is 
fixed  the  insertion  of  the  deep  flexor  of  the  foot.  The  articula- 
tions of  these  bones  with  each  other,  and  with  the  lower  extrem- 
ity of  the  cannon-bone,  form  the  ankle  and  fetlock  joints.  The 
line  through  their  central  axis  defines  the  natural  incidence  of 
the  weight  in  its  descent  from  the  body,  and  indicates  that  the 
natural  inclination  of  the  cofiin-bone  is  in  direct  line  with  the 
pasterns- 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE. 


51 


A,  Flexor  perforatus  (attached  to  lower  pas- 
tern bone). 

B,  Flexor  perforans  (inserted  under  coffin- 
bone). 

C,  Metacarpal  or  check  ligament  of  the  per- 
forans tendon. 

D,  Suspensory  ligament  of  the  fetlock. 

E,  Front  extefasor  tendon  (inserted  into  front 
of  cothn-bone). 

P,  Splint  bone  on  outer  side  of  the  cannon. 

G,  Branching  of  the  suspensory. 

H,  Branch  of  same  passing  forward  to  join 
the  extensor  tendon. 

I,  J,  K,  Periosteum  membrane  covering  the 
surfaces  of  the  cannon  and  pastern  bones. 

L,  Fibrous  reticulum  covering  the  face  of  the 
coffin-bone  and  forming  the  reticular  tissue  leaves, 
or  sensitive  larainte,  which  dovetail  into  the  horny 
leaves  of  the  wall,  completing  the  union  of  these 
regions. 

M,    The    pastern-supporting    or    check    liga- 
ment.    This    has    never   before    been    shown    in 
anatomical  drawings.      It  binds   the  upper  head 
(if    the    lower    pastern    to    the    lower    head    of 
the   upper  pastern,   and   is    located   midway   be- 
tween   the  flexor  tendon  and   upper  pas- 
tern bone.     Its  office  is  plainly  duplex — it 
holds  the   ankle   and  pastern  joint  firmly 
in  position,  and  divides  the  strain  with  the 
flexor  tendon  in  its  severe  down- 
ward action. 


Fig.  4.  extern.\l  side  view  of  left  fkont 
limb,  showing  the  articulations,  tendons, 
and  ligaments  op  the  knee,  fetlock,  and 

FOOT. 


52 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


A,  Coffin-bone. 

B,  Navicular-bone. 

C,  Lower  pastern-bone. 

D,  Upper  pastern-bone. 

E,  Cannon-bone. 

F,  Velvety  tissue  or  sensitive  sole. 
6,  Horny  wall. 
H,  Horny  sole. 

I,  Horny  frog. 

K,  Plantar-cushion  or  sensitive  sole 

L,  Horny  laminee. 

M,  Sensitive  laminae. 

N,  Front  extensor  tendon. 

O,  Perforatus  (superficial  flexor). 

P,  Perforans  (deep  flexor  of  the  foot 
inserted  under  the  coffin-bone. 

Q,  Metacarpal  ligament  (joining  the 

perforans  tendons. 

B.,  Suspensory  ligament  of  the  fet- 
lock. 

S,  Sesamoid-bone  (dotted  line). 

T,  Branch  of  per- 
foratus tendon  attached 
to  lower  pastern-bone. 


Fig.  5.    median  section  of  front  digit,  fkom  base 

OF  FOOT  to  head  OF  CANNON    BONE,  SHOWING  ARRANGE- 
MENT OF  THE  ARTICULAR  AND   MUSCULAR  APPARATUS. 


The  dotted  line  through  center  of  digital  bones  shows  the 
line  of  action  of  weight  from  above  to  below,  and  marks  the 
normal  anorle  of  the  foot. 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE. 


53 


Fig.  6.    side  view  of  the  outside  half  of  the  right  front  foot  with 

WALL    OF    the    hoof    REMOVED,    SHOWING    NUMEROUS    LEAVES    OP    THE    SENSITIVE 
LAMINAL   TISSUE. 

A,  Median  section  of  the  hoof,  continued  through  wall,  sole  and  frog. 
B,  Base  of  hoof  on  opposite  side.  C,  The  keratogenous  membrane  or  sensi- 
tive laminae,  covering  the  upper  face  of  the  pedal-bone,  consisting  of  vascular 
leaves,  designed  to  interlock  with  the  horny  laminae  on  the  inner  face  of  the 
wall  of  the  hoof.  D,  The  coronary-cushion,  showing  its  continuance  to  the 
bulbs  of  the  plantar-cushion  at  the  heel  and  the  perioplic  ring  around  its  upper 
border 


To  the  great  vascularity  of  these  sensitive  tissues  is  due  the 
bright  red  color  they  show  on  the  surface.  They  form  in  their 
connection  with  the  plantar  surface  of  the  velvety  tissue,  the  es- 
sential apparatus  of  touch  and  feeling  in  the  foot.  They  are,  in 
addition,  highly  elastic  and  assist  in  the  springy  action  so  neces- 
sary to  the  ease  of  the  foot  when  exerted  in  speed  or  in. the  severe 
strains  of  drawing  heavy  loads. 


54 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


A,  Numerous  leaves  of  the  sensi- 
tive laminpe  (podophyllous  tissue) 
formed  by  the  reticulum  covering  the 
external  face  of  the  coffin-bone,  and 
which  interlock  with  the  horny 
leaves  (keraphyllous  tissue)  of  the 
surrounding  wall. 

B,  Coronary-cushion,  the  organ 
which  develops  the  horny  wall,  and 
acts  in  reciprocal  relation  between  it 
and  the  skin  above,  as  an  elastic 
medium  of  connection.  It  also 
unites  in  the  same  manner  with  the 
vascular  laminae,  and  is  prolonged 
downward  at  the  back,  into  the  bulbs 
of  the  plantar-cushion  and  the  villous 
tunic  of  the  velvety  tissue. 


Fig.  7.  front  view  of  the  horse's 
foot,  showing  the  superficial  appear- 
ance of  the  keratogenous  membrane, 
or  laminal  tissue,  after  removal  of 

THE  HOOF. 

The  villi  of  the  coronary-cnshion  and  velvety  tissue  deter- 
mine the  structure  and  maintain  the  elasticity  of  the  entire 
hoof.  The  laminal  tissue  has  the  property  of  throwing  out  a  tem- 
porary horn,  whether  exposed  by  stripping  off'  the  hoof  or  by 
the  active  changes  of  inflammation,  but  this  must  be  replaced  by 
that  from  the  coronet  when  the  foot  returns  to  its  normal  condi- 
tion. 


i 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HOKSE. 


55 


Fig.  8.  internal  structures  of  the  region  of 
the  left  fore-foot  as  seen  from  the  outer  side. 

A,  Lateral  cartilage  of  the  coffin-bone. 

B,  Reticulum,  enveloping  the  coffin-bone,  sus- 
taining the  blood-vessels  and  laminal  tissues  of 
this  region. 

C,  Tendon  of  the  front  extensor  of  the  foot  to 
its  insertion  on  eminence  of  coffin-bone. 

D,  Terminal  of  the  side  extensor  of  the  foot. 

E,  Rear  face  of  the  sesamoid  branch  of  the 
transverse  ligament. 

P,  Periosteum  membrane,  covering  the  surfaces 
of  the  cannon  and  pastern  bones. 


These  plates  represent  the  arteries  in  red,  the  veins  in  blue, 
and  the  nerves  in  white.  Each  of  these  systems  maintains  the 
most  intimate  relations  with  the  others  and  meets  in  the  extremi- 
ties in  various  forms  of  branches,  collaterals,  and  ganglionic  en- 
largements, remarkable  alike  for  their  large  volume,  intricate 
reticulation  and  extreme  delicacy. 

The  divisions  shown  in  this  plate  are  the  digital  and  ungual 
arteries  and  veins  of  the  plantar  region,  the  veins  of  the  coro- 
nary plexus,  and  the  median  circumflex  artery  of  the  foot  to- 
gether with  the  digital  branches  of  the  median  or  cubic  plantar 
nerve. 


56 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


B,  Continuation  of  the  fibrous  reticulum, 
for  the  support  of  the  vessels  and  leafy  tissue  on 
the  coffin-bone. 

C,  Tendon  of  the  front  extensor  of  the  foot 
going  on  to  the  coffin-bone. 

E,  Rear  margin  of  sesamoid  ligament. 
P,  Periosteum   of  the  cannon-  and  pastern- 
bones. 


Fig.  9.    internal  structures  of  the  region  of 

THE  left  fore  FOOT,  AS  SEEN  FROiM  THE  INNER  SIDE. 

The  digital  arteries  and  veins  course  almost  immediately  be- 
neath the  skin.  Descending  from  above  the  fetlock  joint  they 
follow  the  course  of  the  flexor  tendon  and  throw  out  innumerable 
twigs  and  divergant  ramifications  to  supply  the  surfaces,  as  well 
:as  the  deeper  tissue  substances  of  the  foot.  Those  shown  in  this 
plate  are  the  perpendicular  artery,  circumflex  coronar}-,  artery 
of  the  plantar  cushion,  preplantar  ungual,  venous  network  of  the 
laminal  tissue,  coronary  plexus,  and  the  deep  cartilaginous  layer 
— all  flanked  by  the  plantar  nerve,  which  interlaces  them  with 
numerous  filaments. 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE. 


57 


Fig.  10.    FRONT  view  of  the  foot  region, 

SHOWING   THE    ARRANGEMENT    OF    THE    INTER- 
NAL STRUCTURES. 

A,  Front  border  of  the  lateral  cartilage 
of  the  coffin-bone  (the  corresponding  piece 
on  the  other  side  having  been  removed). 

B,  Continuation  of  the  reticulum,  form- 
ing the  membraneous  net,  which  holds  in  its 
meshes  the  dependent  vessels  and  laminal 
tissues  on  the  coffin-bone. 

C,  Tendon  of  the  front  extensor  of  the 
foot  to  its  insertion  in  the  coffin-bone. 

D,  Terminal  of  the  side  extensor  of  the 
foot.' 

P,  Inner  and  outer  borders  of  the  can- 
non-bone. 


The  external  and  collateral  branches  of  the  perpendicular 
artery  and  satellite  veins  and  nerves  are  here  shown  by  their  an- 
terior branches,  which  concur  in  forming  the  articular  branch  of 
the  phalanx,  veiny  plexus  of  the  coronary  crown  circle,  and  net 
of  the  reticular  tissue,  accompanied  by  the  vasa  motor  nerves 
belonging  to  the  plantar  system. 


58 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


A,  Rear  border  of  the  lateral  cartilage 
(the  other  being  omitted). 

B,  Pyramidal  base  or  bulbs  of  the  plan- 
tar cushion  or  sensitive  frog,  interposed  be- 
tween the  perforans  tendon  and  the  horny 
hoof. 

C,  Reinforcing  phalangeal  sheath  cover- 
ing the  perforans  tendon  and  the  suspen- 
sory ligament  with  a  fibrous  expansion  and 
attaching  itself  to  the  larger  part  of  the 
pastern-bones. 

D,  Flexor  perforans  at  its  exit  from 
between  the  two  branches  of  the  perforatus. 

E,  Superficial  bundle  or  ring  of  the 
sesamoid  ligament. 

F,  Flexor  perforatus,  giving  off  two 
branches  toward  the  bottom,  which  become 
attached  to  the  lower  pastern-bone. 


Fig,  11.     BACK  OF  the  foot  re- 


KANGEMENT  OF  THE  PHALANGES. 


The  arteries,  veins  and  nerves  are  the  posterior  offshoots  of 
the  internal  and  external  collaterals,  furnishing  this  region  same 
as  previously  referred  to. 


THE    FOOT   OF   THE    HORSE. 


59 


Fig.   12.     plantar  surface   at  lower  face  op  the  third  or  ungctal 
phalanx  of  the  foot,  the  pedal,  or  coffin-bone,  upon  which  the  digit  is 

BASED 

This  view  represents  the  sole  of  the  bone  covered  by  the 
plantar  reticulum  and  shows  the  origin  of  the  preplantar  ungual 
artery  as  it  emerges  at  the  retrossal  process  of  the  wings  and 
loops  into  the  semi-lunar  anastomotic  arch,  communicating  in 
the  bone.  The  radiating  branches  from  this  arch  and  from  the 
outer  border  correspond  with  the  affluents  of  Figs.  13  and  14. 
The  nerves  shown  are  the  descending  posterior  branches  of  the 
preplantar  nerve,  accompanying  the  digital  artery  on  the  retros- 
sal process,  traversing  the  cartilages  and  laminal  tissues,  and 
terminating  around  the  plantar  ungual  artery  in  the  plantar 
fissure. 

The  attachment  of  the  deep  flexor  of  the  foot — the  per- 
forans — is  shown  as  covering  the  semi-lunar  crest  and  the  me- 
dian imprints  of  this  bone ;  widening  into  a  large  expansion 
designated  the  plantar  aponeurosis.  This  terminal  expansion  is 
covered  by  the  plantar  cushion  which  adheres  to  it  most  inti- 
mately. This  muscle  flexes  the  phalanges  on  one  another,  and 
it  also  concurs  in  flexing  the  entire  foot  on  the  fore-arm. 


60 


SCIENTIFIC    HOKSESHOEING. 


A,  Lower  border  of  the  lateral 
cartilage  of  the  coffin-bone  (the 
part  corresponding  to  this  on  the 
other  side  being  detached  for 
this  illustration.) 

B,  The  proper  tissue,  or  vil- 
lous tunic  of  the  reticulum, 
which  is  correlated  to  the  upper 
surface  of  the  velvety  tissue, 
and  answers  to  the  periosteum 
on  the  coffin-bone,  which  it  en- 
velopes like  a  villous  sheath. 

C,  The  periphery  of  the  re- 
ticular tissue,  conspicuous  for 
the  divisions  of  arteries  and  ves- 
sels which  it  sustains  and  which 
prevail   so    largely   throughout 

Fig.  13.    the  plantar  reticulum  or  kera-  the  whole  extent  of  the  plantar 

TOGENOUS  MEMBRANE  COVERING  THE  LOWER  FACE    g^yface 
OF   THE    COFFIN-BONE,    AND    SUSTAINING    IN    ITS 
MESHES  THE  VEINS  OF  THE  SOLAR  PLEXUS. 


The  venous  apparatus  of  the  digital  region  is  remarkable 
for  the  number,  distribution  and  interlaced  disposition  of  the 
vessels  composing  it.  They  are  extended  over  and  molded 
on  the  two  last  phalanges  of  the  foot,  discharging  themselves 
by  numerous  descending  and  ascending  branches,  converging  in 
Hexiform  nets  and  arches,  and  communicating  with  each  other, 
or  traversing  every  element,  by  an  intricate  system  of  arte- 
rioles or  venules,  analogous  to  the  capillary  system. 


1 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE. 


61 


A,  Lower  face  of  the 
velvety  tissue,  or  sensi- 
tive sole  immediately 
overlying  the  horny 
sole,  which  it  secretes. 

B,  Base,  or  bulbs  of 
the  plantar  cushion,  sep- 
arated by  the  depression 
orcleft  (median  lacuna), 
on  the  inside  of  which 
the  spur  or  stay  of  the 
horny  frog  reaches. 

C,  Return  of  the  bars 
to  their  junction  with 
the  wall. 

D,  Arch,  or  spring  of 
the  bars,  formed  by  their 
angle  of  inflection  at  the 
heels,  also  showing  the 
laminal  leaves  covering 
them. 


Fig.  14.     the  lowkr   face  of  the  horse's   foot, 
after  removal  of  the  horny  hoof. 


The  arteries  forming  the  plexus  or  network  furnishing  this 
resrion  of  the  foot  are  similar  to  those  shown  on  the  other 
plates,  and  like  them  proceed  from  the  parent  trunk,  descending 
on  the  side  of  the  digit,  terminating  in  the  plantar  ungual 
branch  from  which  the  inferior  communicating  arteries  pass 
through  the  foramina  just  above  the  edge  of  the  coffin-bone, 
branching  closely  over  the  laminal  tissue  and  uniting  below  to 
form  the  large  circumflex,  or  peripheral  artery,  which  runs 
around  the  toe.  They  also  help  to  form  the  inferior  circumflex 
artery  and  finally  join  the  coronary  plexus — collectively  form- 
ing the  circulatory  apparatus  of  the  entire  digital  region. 


62 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  15.  a  perfect  hoof,  removed  from  the  foot,  .sho\vin(;  a  lateral 
posterior  view  of  a  sound  natiral  and  healthy  development  of  wall — 
horny  lamin.e — coronary  chamber — sole,  froci-stay',  fissures  and  bars. 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE.  63 

BRIEF  OUTLINE  OF  ANATOMY  OF  THE  FOOT. 

Adapted  from  the  Subject-matter  of  this  Chapter. 

It  should  be  studied  by  all  who  wish  to  get  a  brief,  con- 
nected view  of  the  principal  parts  and  practical  workings  of  the 
locomotory  apparatus  of  the  horse. 

Q.  1.  What  constitutes  the  apparatus  of  locomotion  ? 

A,  The  bones  and  muscles  co-operating  with  the  vital  or- 
ganism. 

Q.  2.  What  does  the  "  foot  "  or  "  digital  region  "  imply  ? 

A.  It  includes  the  ankle  from  the  fetlock  down,  comprised 
in  a  single  hoof. 

Q.  3.  What  bones  enter  into  its  formation  ? 

A.  The  lower  end  of  the  cannon,  the  two  sesamoids,  upper 
and  lower  pasterns ;  navicular  and  coffin-bones  form  the  skele- 
ton on  which  the  other  structures  are  built. 

Q.  4.  How  do  these  co-operate  ? 

A.  They  concur  to  form  joints,  which  provide  for  the  nec- 
essary motion.     (For  details,  see  Figs.  3  to  5.) 

Q.  5.  Name  the  joints  of  the  foot  or  digit. 

A.  There  are  three  of  them — the  fetlock,  pastern,  and  coffin 
joints,  made  by  the  union  of  two  or  more  bones  moving  one 
upon  the  other. 

Q.  6.  What  completes  the  jointed  processes  ? 

A.  They  are  held  together  by  ligaments,  and  are  lubricated 
by  the  synovial  fluid  secreted  by  the  inclosing  membrane. 

Q.  7.  What  further  of  their  work  ? 

A.  That  they  are  of  special  importance  to  the  value  of  the 
animal,  and  are  the  parts  most  subject  to  impairment  from  in- 
jury or  disease. 

Q.  8.  What  muscles  co-operate  in  the  foot  action  ? 

A.  The  two  principal  muscles  that  flex  or  bend  the  foot  are 


64  SCIENTIFIC   HORSESHOEING. 

the  perforatus  and  perforans,  and  one  principal  muscle,  the  front 
extensor,  straightens  or  thrusts  the  foot  forward.  (See  Figs. 
4  and  5.) 

Q.  9.  What  is  the  significance  of  their  positions  and  inser- 
tions ? 

A.  Knowing  the  action  of  the  bones  to  be  straightforward 
and  back,  we  know  that  the  muscles  must  act  on  the  same  line. 

Q.  10.  What  duty  do  the  navicular  and  small  sesamoids  per- 
form? 

A.  They  act  as  pulleys  (and  supports  annexed  to  the  joints) 
in  facilitating  the  gliding  movements  of  the  muscles  which  pass 
over  them. 

Q.  11.  What  do  we  understand  by  the  "soft  tissues"  of  the 
foot? 

A.  They  comprise  various  organs  of  cartilage,  fibrous  or 
elastic  tissues  for  the  development  of  other  tissues,  and  for  easing 
concussion  on  the  hard  organs. 

Q.  12.  What  are  the  principal  apparatuses  thus  referred  to  ? 

A.  The  lateral  cartilages,  the  coronary  and  plantar  cushions. 

Q.  13.  What  further  do  we  know  concerning  them? 

A.  The  cartilages  are  pads  at  the  sides  of  the  foot,  the 
coronary  cushion  secretes  the  horny  wall,  and  the  plantar  cush- 
ion acts  as  a  support  to  the  back  tendons. 

Q.  14.  What  are  the  "  sensitive  tissues"? 

A.  The  laminal  or  leafy  tissue  and  the  velvety  tissue, 
which  are  continuous  with  the  membrane  covering  the  entire 
foot. 

Q.  15.  What  is  the  function  of  the  laminse  ? 

A.  They  form  the  connection  between  the  internal  foot  and 
the  encasing  hoof,  by  dovetailing  into  the  horny  leaves  on  the 
wall,  and  thus  support  the  action  of  the  two  parts. 

Q.  16.  What  of  the  velvety  tissue  ? 

A.  This  is  the  covering  of  the  sole  of  the  coflin-bone,  the 


THE    FOOT    OF    THE    HORSE.  65 

sensitive  sole  of  the  foot,  and  secretes  the  outer  horny  sole  and 
frog. 

Q.  17.  What  relation  does  the  hoof  sustain  to  the  foot? 

A.  It  serves  as  the  outer  covering  or  case,  and  protects  the 
internal  parts  from  external  violence. 

Q.  18.  What  is  scientific  horseshoing? 

A.  It  is  a  noble  artificial  skill  of  man  working  in  conjunc- 
tion with  nature,  to  keep  the  foot  in  its  natural  formation.  The 
shoe  is  to  protect  the  foot  from  external  injuries. 

Q.  19.  How  many  acts  are  there  to  be  performed  before  the 
foot  is  properly  shod. 

A.  There  are  three  acts  required  :  First,  to  remove  all  the 
surplus  growth,  and  properly  shape  the  foot  to  its  natural  form 
and  size.  Second,  to  select  a  bar  of  iron  or  steel,  make  and  fit 
a  shoe  of  suitable  weight  for  which  the  foot  and  leg  requires, 
and  the  work  the  horse  has  to  perform  and  fit  properly  to  the 
foot.     Third,  to  nail  the  shoe  to  the  foot. 

Each  of  these  operations  must  work  in  entire  harmony  with 

the  rest,  otherwise  one  would  undo  the  others.     Thus,  the  shoe 

must  be  properly  adjusted  and  accurately  driven  on  the  foot,  or 

the  utility  of  the  preceding  acts  would  be  destroyed  or  crippled. 

5 


66  SCIENTIFIC    HOKSESHOEING. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
PRACTICAL  HORSESHOEING 

METHODS   OF   SCIENCE,   ART,    AND    COMMON   SENSE. 

Necessity  of  Shoeing. — Since  the  employment  of  the 
horse  in  many  pursuits  renders  it  necessary  that  an  artiiicial  pro- 
tection be  employed  to  preserve  his  feet  from  injurious  wear,  it 
becomes  a  consideration  of  the  first  importance  to  know  the 
proper  method  of  doing  this  without  seriously  interfering  with 
or  destroying  the  functions  of  the  foot,  and  so  as  in  the  least, 
to  constrain  its  natural  gestures  while  employing  its  fullest 
powers. 

The  eftects  of  applying  an  iron  defense  to  the  horse's  foot 
and  securing  it  to  the  hoof  with  nails,  are  no  doubt  a  source  of 
injury  to  that  organ,  and  even  with  the  best  of  care  a  few  of 
them  are  unavoidable ;  but  they  are  increased  in  number  and 
heightened  in  intensity,  when  the  shoe  is  badly  constructed  and 
.attached,  whereas  a  right  understanding  of  the  subject  will 
teach  that  those  evils  which  are  unavoidable  may  at  least  be 
greatly  mitigated. 

There  are  some  points  on  the  question  of  shoeing  notori- 
ously at  issue  between  writers  and  shoers,  theorists,  and  prac- 
titioners, so  that  hardly  any  agreement  can  be  found  to  exist 
even  on  essential  principles,  and  this  diversity  of  opinion  will 
probably  continue  until  the  known  human  artifices  shall  have 
been  superseded  by  unknown  or  natural  agencies. 

All  agree,  however,  that  some  artificial  shield  to  the  horse's 
foot  is  necessary,  for  employed  as  he  is,  his  hoofs  are  unable  to 
withstand  the  severe  demands  imposed  upon  them  :  the  wear 
more  than  exceeds  the  growth. 


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PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  69 

Again,  all  unite  in  the  belief  that  nothing  more  simple,  in- 
expensive and  efficient  than  a  well-devised  iron  or  steel  shoe 
can  at  present  be  produced  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  case, 
nor  can  the  safe  and  ready  method  of  attaching  it  by  nails  be 
displaced  by  any  other  means  that  we  are  acquainted  with. 

Having  to  deal  with  the  facts  as  we  find  them,  therefore,  let 
us  turn  to  a  consideration  of  the  best  means  which  lie  in  our 
power  of  reducing,  as  much  as  possible,  the  evils  so  frequently 
attendant  upon  the  practice  of  shoeing  as  commonly  pursued. 

Past  and  Present. — Bad  and  indifl:erent  shoeing  are  pro- 
ductive of  but  one  result — serious  injury  to  the  animals  shod — and 
rendering  them  more  or  less  unfit  for  active  service.  It  is  the 
exercise  of  a  high&r  knowledge  and  its  scientific  application 
that  constitutes  the  true  "  art,  trade  and  mystery"  of  farriery, 
as  exemplified  in  the  best  practice  of  to-day;  in  which  science, 
as  well  as  art  and  common  sense,  are  operating  to  supplant  the 
irrational,  time-honored  customs  (which  were  once  a  portion  of 
the  blacksmith's  creed),  and  are  now  gradually  raising  the  science 
of  horshoeiniT  above  the  baneful  influences  of  ignorance  and 
traditional  routine,  to  that  position  which  its  practical  import- 
ance as  a  great  national  economic  question  justly  entitles  it. 

When  it  is  thus  conceded  that  some  of  the  operations  and 
practices  of  the  art  have  been  materially  altered  and  improved 
upon,  it  is  none  the  less  true  that  the  ordinary  system  of  horse- 
shoeing, as  it  obtains  in  average  hands,  has  not  kept  pace  with 
the  advancement  noted.  In  too  many  instances  it  is  observable 
that  the  art  of  the  farrier  is  at  variance  with  the  workings  of 
nature,  and  what  satisfies  the  one  outrages  the  demands  of  the 
otiier.  The  result  is  strikingly  conspicuous  in  the  number  of 
lame,  maimed,  diseased  or  disabled  horses,  involving  a  direct 
loss  of  valuable  property,  as  well  as  much  needless  suffering  in 
the  noblest  of  our  dumb  animals.     And  to  misapplied  shoeing. 


70  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

a  very  large  proportion  of  these  evils  is,  beyond  all  doubt,  di- 
rectly or  indirectly  traceable. 

Important  to  Horsemen. — The  shoeing  of  horses  is  a  work 
practically  belonging  to  the  smith,  but  as  gentlemen  and  others 
who  are  owners  of  horses  ought  to  know"  and  be  able  to  distinguish, 
at  least  in  some  degree,  when  it  is  ill  or  well  done,  it  would  seem 
an  unnecessary  precaution  to  recommend  a  matter  of  such  per- 
sonal interest  to  their  attention.  It  is  really  surprising  to  learn, 
however,  how  indifferent  or  neglectful  of  the  well-being  of  their 
horses'  feet  and  legs  so  many  owners  and  drivers  are.  The  foot 
is  undoubtedly  the  most  important  part  of  the  animal,  so  far  as 
his  ultimate  usefulness  is  concerned.  And  the  afiair  of  shoeing 
is  so  important  in  its  consequences,  both  for  the  preservation  of 
the  foot,  the  safety  of  the  legs,  and  the  ease  and  comfort  of 
their  motion  that  horsemen  and  proprietors  can  not  be  too  at- 
tentive to  practical  recommendations  on  the  subject.  For  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  among  horseshoers  there  is  as  great 
diversity  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the  performance  of  their  work 
as  there  possibly  can  be  in  any  other  trade  or  calling,  and  theo- 
retical speculations  upon  this  subject  have  done  but  little  for 
the  farrier  or  the  horse.  I  am  convinced  that  many  of  these 
difterences  would  disappear,  together  with  most  of  the  ailments 
and  afflictions  to  which  horses  are  liable  under  existing  condi- 
tions, if  a  better  knowledge  of  the  natural  formation  of  the  foot 
and  of  the  relative  value  and  office  of  its  various  parts,  per- 
vaded the  great  body  of  owners  and  trainers  as  a  whole,  than 
now  exists.  These  troubles  are  caused,  speaking  generally,  by 
the  horse  being  out  of  balance  on  his  feet,  and,  in  justice  to  the 
much  abused  horseshoer,  be  it  noted,  they  are  quite  as  often  due 
to  erroneous  ideas  and  "  pet  theories  "  of  would-be  horsemen 
being  foisted  into  the  workshop,  as  from  any  lack  of  ability  or 
ingenuity  on  the  part  of  the  farrier. 

In  veterinary  surgery,  too,  as  an  eftective  remedial  or  cura- 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  71 

tive  agent,  for  so  many  of  the  injuries  and  diseases  affecting  the 
health  and  soundness  of  the  horse,  scientific  shoeing  should 
occupy  a  foremost  place ;  yet  it  is  a  matter  of  deep  regret  that 
among  this  class  of  practitioners  are  many  men  who  have  neg- 
lected to  properly  study  this  most  important  branch  of  their 
profession,  or,  having  acquired  only  an  imperfect  conception  of  it 
through  books,  are  unable  to  direct  it  with  necessary  discretion 
to  any  salutary  effect ;  or,  as  has  so  frequently  come  within  the 
trend  of  my  experience,  altogether  pervert  it,  to  the  continued 
detriment  of  the  patient  and  of  the  business  interests  involved 
as  well.  The  moral  of  this  is  obvious.  No  humbug  use  of  iron, 
nor  theoretical  experiments  with  it  on  the  one  side,  nor  blind 
groping  in  the  dark  on  the  other,  will  ever  solve  the  "  problems 
of  farriery,"  simple  and  easy  as  they  really  are,  but  made 
difficult  contentions  in  the  hands  of  quacks  and  ignorant 
practitioners. 

Essential  knowledge. — To  rescue  the  practice  from  such 
hands  is  the  work  of  that  higher  knowledge  to  which  I  have 
already  referred,  and  it  is  the  application  of  such  general  facts 
of  veterinary  anatomy  as  explain  the  construction  and  functions 
of  the  foot,  to  the  practical  business  of  shoeing  that  will  most 
largely  contribute  to  this  end.  How,  otherwise,  can  the  smith 
he  expected  to  understand  the  normal  size,  shape  and  structure 
of  the  foot  upon  which  he  operates,  or  how  know  the  correct 
principles  of  shoeing  and  balancing  a  horse  on  his  feet? 

When  a  horse  is  at  the  shoeing  forge  "  it  is  a  condition,  not 
a  theory,"  that  confronts  the  smith,  and  there  is  no  longer  room 
for  doubt,  and  unless  he  knows,  with  positive  certainty,  just  how 
to  preserve  or  obtain  the  proper  balances  and  bearings  of  the 
foot  he  is  utterly  incapacitated  to  take  charge  of  it.  Science 
and  art  are  combined  in  skillful  shoeing.  A  knowledge  of  the 
structure  and  normal  functions  of  every  part  of  the  foot,  as  well 
as  of  the  legs  from  the  knee  and  hock  down,  though  not  neces- 


72  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

sarily  in  their  ultimate  scientific  minuti?e,  are  as  necessary  to 
make  a  perfect  shoer  as  is  the  mechanical  skill  to  make  a  perfect 
shoe. 

Condensed  Anatomy. — Fully  appreciating  the  importance 
of  these  suggestions  and  knowing  that  an  accumulation  of  detail 
often  deters  the  average  reader  and  thus  defeats  the  design  of 
the  writer,  a  concise  review  of  the  general  anatomy  of  the  horse's 
foot  will  be  introduced  here,  containing  only  the  briefest  hint 
of  the  essential  organs  of  locomotion,  which  may  serve  as  a 
convenient  reference  chart  to  the  general  features  of  the  subject 
under  discussion. 

Speaking  first  of  the  external  structure  of  the  foot  alone, 
the  parts  with  which  the  farrier  has  to  deal,  are  the  wall,  sole, 
bars  and  frog,  all  well  enough  known  by  name,  but  less  familiar 
in  their  relations  with  other  parts  and  the  mode  of  their  co- 
operation. 

The  hoof  is  composed  of  horny,  hair-like  fibers,  closely  matted 
together  and  forms  the  natural  protection  of  the  sensitive  foot. 

The  wall  is  that  part  of  the  hoof  visible  when  the  foot  rests 
naturally  on  the  ground,  and  is  the  main  factor  in  bearing  the 
horse's  weight. 

The  bars  are  a  continuation  of  the  wall  forming  the  angles 
at  the  heel,  and  assist  in  the  lateral  expansion  and  oppose  con- 
traction of  the  heels  and  quarters. 

The  sole  is  contained  within  the  lower  margin  of  the  wall, 
and  is  a  concaved  plate  of  flexible  horn  covering  the  ground  sur- 
face of  the  foot. 

The  frog  forms  the  back  part  of  the  sole  between  the  bars, 
and  is  the  natural  buffer  of  the  foot  for  the  prevention  of  injury 
and  jar  to  the  limb. 

The  wall  grows  indefinitely,  but  the  sole  and  frog  naturally 
throw  off  flakes  or  scales  when  they  have  grown  to  a  certain 
thickness  and  are  essential  in  their  entirety  for  the  maintenance 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  73 

of  the  foot  in  health  and  its  protection  from  injury.  The  hoof 
incloses  the  coffin-bone,  which  is  the  terminal  bone  of  the  leg. 
To  this  bone  are  attached  the  principal  tendons  that  bend 
and  thrust  the  foot  forward,  and  to  it  also  grow  the  tough  but 
tender,  leafy  tissues  which  dovetail  into  horny  ridges  on  the 
wall ;  these  attachments  being  technically  called  the  sensitive 
and  insensitive  laminne.  These  leafy  tissues  working  together, 
carry  the  stress  of  weight  with  an  elastic  movement,  their  vari- 
ation, under  pressure  and  without,  being  found  to  be  about  one 
quarter  of  an  inch.  The  result  is  a  wonderful  elastic  spring  be- 
tween the  end  of  the  leg  and  the  external  hoof,  and  this  with 
the  springy  action  of  the  coronary  and  frog  cushions  and  lateral 
cartilages,  acting  together  with  the  expansion  of  the  arched 
bars — all  being  compressible  under  pressure — is  the  wise  provi- 
sion of  nature  to  ward  off  and  minimize  the  concussion  on  a 
horse's  foot  in  motion. 

The  Center  of  Gravity. — Having  reached  this  point,  let 
us  observe  the  going  as  well  as  the  external  and  internal  struct- 
ure of  a  horse's  foot.  The  horse  then  who  draws  presses  first 
on  the  toe,  then  successively  on  the  sides  to  ease  the  toe,  then 
upon  the  heel,  from  which  it  immediately  rises  again.  Trot- 
ting and  running  horses  press  the  toe  relatively  lighter,  landing 
first  upon  the  heel,  but  in  either  case  the  effort  of  the  weight 
of  the  horses  fixes  the  real  point  of  support  neither  upon  the 
heel  or  toe,  but  on  the  middle  or  ball  of  the  foot — between 
both,  where  is  located  the  center  of  gravity,  which  is  easy  to 
demonstrate  anatomically:  thus,  the  cannon-bone  presses  on  the 
head  of  the  upper  pastern,  this  on  the  lower  pastern,  this  again 
on  the  navicular  and  coffin-bones,  the  center  from  where  it  is 
projected  upon  the  ground  bearings  of  the  hoo-f  without.  In  a 
sound  and  healthy  organization,  the  succession  of  rapid  move- 
ments of  the  living  animal,  adducts  or  shifts  the  center  of  grav- 
ity toward  and  through  the  median  line  or  center  of  the  heads 


74  SCIEXTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

of  the  coffin-,  pastern-,  and  fetlock  joints,  in  a  smooth,  even, 
and  equally -balanced  movement,  and  the  function  of  locomotion 
is  performed  with  perfect  and  efficient  activity.  But  let  any 
change  or  irregularity,  however  slight  or  obscure,  occur  among 
the  elements  of  the  case,  whether  in  the  relations  of  co-opera- 
ting parts,  or  of  form,  dimension  and  location  of  foot  bearings, 
whereby  certain  parts  of  a  limb  are  forced  to  accept  the  portion 
of  the  weight  which  belongs  to  others ;  in  short,  whatever  tends 
to  defeat  the  purpose  of  nature  in  organizing  the  locomotory 
apparatus  by  interfering  with  or  misdirecting  its  normal  move- 
ment will  ultimately  result  in  that  loss  of  harmony  and  lack  of 
balance  betrayed  by  disabled  functions  and  testified  by  lameness. 

Emphasizing  the  Facts. — In  thus  digressing  it  is  only  to 
establish  certain  primary  facts  relating  to  the  main  subject,  in 
the  hope  of  drawing  attention  to  the  necessity  of  every  horse- 
man and  farrier  clearly  comprehending  this  branch  of  it  be- 
fore entering  upon  its  sequel — the  preparation  of  the  foot  for 
the  shoe — in  order  to  prove  that  without  it  as  a  foundation 
upon  which  to  rest  the  whole  modus  operandi,  and  as  a  final 
resource  to  fall  back  upon  in  all  cases  where  accurate  judgment 
is  required,  there  can  be  no  permanently  favorable  results 
secured  from  any  treatment  instituted,  howsoever  skillful  or 
experienced  the  operator  may  otherwise  be.  The  value  of 
appreciating  this  and  of  knowing  the  natural  formation  of  the 
foot,  is,  practically  to  know  when  the  foot  is  losing  that  natural 
form,  so  that  it  may  be  shaped  and  shod  to  assist  nature  in  re- 
storing it.  How,  then,  shall  we  shoe  a  horse  to  preserve  intact 
the  normal  conditions  of  the  feet  and  legs,  so  as  to  afford  them 
the  necessary  protection  in  the  performance  of  their  varied  func- 
tions under  the  most  exacting  conditions  which  civilization  can 
impose,  enabling  all  to  act  together  in  perfect  harmony  and 
with  absolute  efficiency? 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  iO 

Variation  of  Feet. — From  the  natural  form  of  the  hoof  we 
perceive  that  it  descends  obliquely  outward,  whereby  it  becomes 
considerably  broader  at  its  basis  than  at  the  coronet ;  it  also  de- 
clines in  height  toward  the  heel,  and  this  change  of  contour, 
together  with  the  changes  of  growth,  afl'ects  its  size  and  the  degree 
of  obliquity  in  its  various  parts.  Too  much  importance  can  not 
possibly  be  attached  by  the  workman  to  this  variation,  for  it  is  of 
the  first  importance  to  discriminate  accurately  and  determine  pos- 
itively the  normal  and  abnormal  positions  of  the  limb.  It  fre- 
quently becomes  exceedingly  difficult  to  do  this,  owing  to  the 
close  similarity  between  the  natural  and  unnatural  positions  exist- 
ing in  horses  of  difierent  breeds,  and  to  do  it  satisfactorily  will 
often  require  the  exercise  of  the  closest  scrutiny  and  draw  upon 
all  the  resources  of  experience,  sound  judgment,  and  anatomical 
knowledge.  Horses'  feet  are  alike  in  their  anatomical  combina- 
tion, but  they  differ  in  conformation,  condition,  and  size,  and 
what  will  suffice  to  level  and  balance  one  horse  will  have  no 
satisfactory  efiect  on  others. 

The  Angle  of  Incidence. — But  in  a  majority  of  cases  the 
solution  of  this  first  problem  relating  to  the  correct  fall  of  the 
angle  of  incidence  may  be  easi-ly  obtained  by  carefully  observing 
the  outlines  of  the  pasterns,  and  closely  noting  the  motion  of 
the  whole  extremity  and  especially  of  the  joints.  Sometimes 
the  overgrowth  in  length  of  toe  or  heel  is  too  distinctly  evi- 
dent to  admit  of  error,  but  in  every  instance  the  shoer  must  not 
fail  to  make  the  foot  the  subject  of  a  thorough  and  intelligent 
examination,  for  upon  his  decision  as  to  its  natural  position  and 
the  succeeding  step,  namely,  leveling  the  ground  surface  of  the 
hoof  so  that  its  angle  will  conform  exactly  to  the  inclination  of 
the  pasterns,  is  where  the  art  of  farriery  comes  in. 

What  Rule  to  go  by. — It  would  be  misleading  to  lay 
down  any  arbitrary  degree  of  obliquity,  as  it  naturally  varies 


liyii 


7b  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

more  or  less  in  almost  every  individual  horse,  short  pastern 
Tiorses  standing  at  a  greater  angle  than  those  with  long  pasterns, 
and  hind  feet  more  than  the  fore ;  hence,  the  natural  bias  of  the 
superimposed  structures  is  the  only  safe  guide  to  follow. 

How  to  get  on  in  the  Work. — As  the  slightest  departure 
from  exactitude  here  renders  whatever  amount  of  care  that  may 
be  devoted  to  the  completion  of  the  work  worse  than  useless,  and 
as  every  one  knows  that  accurate  leveling  can  not  be  done  by 
the  unaided  eye,  mechanical  means  must  be  resorted  to  for  the 
purpose,  and  a  scientific  leveler  and  compass  should  therefor 
form  part  of  every  farrier's  outfit. 

Farriers'  Tools. — All  the  world  over,  the  simplicity  and 
fewness  of  farriers'  tools,  have  from  the  beginning,  marked  the 
slow  progress  of  his  invaluable  art.  The  buttress,  the  knife,  the 
clinch  cutter,  the  hammer  and  the  pinchers  have  comprised  his 
"kit"  of  tools,  and  these  as  a  general  thing  of  rude  or  inferior 
construction  ;  latterly,  however,  they  are  of  better  design  and 
material,  and  more  eflective  in  use.  But  now,  to  be  up  with  the 
spirit  of  the  times,  the  shoeing  smith  needs  more  scientific  tools 
for  expert  workmanship  in  leveling  and  adjusting  the  angles  of 
the  foot,  to  secure  that  precision  and  perfection  imperatively  de- 
manded, and  to  supply  this  long  felt  want  I  am  performing  a 
duty  which  needs  no  other  words  of  explanation  in  referring  my 
readers  to  the  "  Russell  Foot  Adjuster,"  a  description  of  which 
is  inserted  here  with  directions  and  illustrations  for  its  practical 
use,  as  a  preliminary  guide  to  the  subject  proper,  and  which 
will  follow  after  in  due  order  of  place  and  connection. 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  77 

RUSSELL'S   SCIENTIFIC   FOOT   ADJUSTER. 

HOW    TO    USE    IT     IN     ACCURATELY     LEVELING     AND    BALANCING    THE     FOOT    WHEN 

PREPARING   IT    FOR   THE   SHOE. 

This  device  is  very  simple  and  effective,  consisting  of  a  flat 
metallic  rim  or  bed-plate,  similar  in  form  to  an  ordinary  horse- 
shoe, to  which  is  pivoted  at  tlie  center  of  toe  a  movable  quad- 
rant (the  quarter  of  a  circle),  the  arc  of  which  is  graduated  or 
divided  into  90  degrees,  from  the  horizontal  plane  to  the  right 
angle  of  the  segment  above,  and  which  is  operated  by  means  of 
a  lever,  working  the  sweep  of  the  quadrant  forward  and  back. 

A  stationary  indicator  is  also  fixed  perpendicularly  to  the 
toe  of  bed-plate,  and  this  registers  the  angles  of  the  foot  upon 
the  surface  of  the  quadrant  when  the  lever  is  brought  forward 
against  the  wall  of  the  hoof.  The  lever  is  also  marked  to  a  scale 
of  inches  and  fractional  parts,  so  that  the  height  or  depth  of 
wall  is  obtained  at  the  same  time  with  its  degree  of  obliquity. 

The  Adjuster  Applied. — This  arrangement  is  best  shown  by 
the  accompanying  illustrations  of  the  adjuster  in  position  for  use. 

Fig.  16.  H,  11,  upper  surface  of  the  bed  plate  of  the  ad- 
juster (with  quadrant  projecting  in  front). 

Fig.  17.     Side  view  of  foot  with  adjuster  applied  to  toe- 

A,  A,  rim  of  bed  plate  pressed  firmly  against  bottom  of  hoof. 

B,  B,  lever  for  moving  the  quadrant  and  measuring  height  of 
wall.  C,  stationary  indicator  registering  the  angular  face  of  the 
wall.     D,  arc  of  the  quadrant  inscribed  with  degrees  as  shown. 

Fig.  18.     Front  of  foot  with  adjuster  abreast  of  the  quarter. 

Fig.  19.  Adjuster  registering  the  angle  of  quarter  as  seen 
from  the  back  of  foot. 

Fig.  20.  Leveling-plate  to  be  used  in  connection  with  foot 
adjuster. 

Other  Mechanical  Aids. — Fig.  21.  Compass  for  spanning 
and  ascertaining  the  exact  height  of  the  wall  at  different  points,, 
necessary  in  leveling  and  equalizing  same. 


78  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

In  addition  to  these  instruments  every  farrier  should  be  pro- 
vided with  a  metal  rule  having  a  scale  of  about  6  inches,  and 
also  a  short  narrow  tape  line  (18  to  24  inches  long)  ;  the  special 
uses  of  which  will  be  made  apparent  in  the  explanations  to 
follow.  , 

Method  of  Procedure. — Fig.  22  shows  the  uplifted  foot  in 
proper  position  for  handling  and  examining  it  while  applying 
the  adjuster  and  testing  the  angles  at  different  parts,  as  well  as 
afterward,  when  viewing  its  levels  and  proving  its  balances. 

With  the  foot  in  this  suspended  position,  we  begin  the  oper- 
ation of  scientifically  leveling  and  balancing  it,  by  starting  a 
line  through  center  of  frog-cleft  and  carrying  it  forward  over 
the  point  to  center  of  toe  at  base  of  hoof,  dividing  the  foot  from 
front  to  back  in  two  equal  halves.     See  Fig.  23,  line  A,  B,  B. 

Mark  the  point  at  base  of  toe  (with  chalk),  then,  with  a  tape 
line,  measure  the  circuit  of  the  hoof  round  the  top  border  at 
coronet  (just  below  the  hair),  and  starting  again  at  frog-cleft,  as 
the  center  of  operations,  measure  half  way  round  the  coronet 
from  both  inner  and  outer  sides,  and  mark  point  of  meeting  at 
top  of  wall  in  front,  then  draw  line  from  point  at  base  to  point 
at  top,  and  you  will  have  the  center  or  median  plane  of  foot  and 
leg  as  shown  by  line  H,  H,  in  Fig.  18. 

Now,  with  the  foot  still  in  hand,  take  up  the  adjuster  and 
press  the  bed-plate  firmly  against  the  bottom  of  the  foot  and 
turn  the  lever  down  until  it  rests  upon  the  front  toe  of  wall,  as 
shown  in  Fig.  17,  and  observe  whether  or  no  the  angle  of  the 
toe  corresponds  with  the  normal  slope  of  the  pastern,  also  if  the 
wall  lines  up  with  the  straight  edge  of  the  lever,  evenly  and 
truly  from  base  to  coronet.  The  first  consideration  is  that  the 
obliquity  or  angle  of  the  toe  should  be  the  same  as  that  of  the 
ankle  above,  and  the  second  is  that  any  abnormal  growth  or 
variation  in  length,  convexity,  or  concavity,  should  be  reduced 
to  a  normal  or  healthy  form,  according  to  the  principles  subse- 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  id 

quently  laid  down  for  that  purpose  ;  and  by  this  process  of  ad- 
justment every  shoer  ought  to  succeed  in  obtaining  a  clew  to 
the  solution  of  the  first  problem  in  farriery,  namely,  how  to 
secure  and  preserve  a  perfect  level  and  balance  in  the  foot. 

Next,  measure  off  about  IJ  or  2  inches  on  each  side  of  front 
toe  at  base  of  hoof  and  mark  same,  then  draw  a  line  from  each 
of  these  points  to  connect  with  the  top  of  line  in  middle,  to  in- 
dicate the  bearings  of  the  inner  and  outer  sides  of  toe,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  18,  lines  E,  E. 

After  properly  noting  the  foregoing,  we  may,  from  thence,  the 
more  easily  reach  our  conclusions  touching  the  other  parts  of  the 
hoof  to  which  the  same  proceeding  applies,  that  is,  in  the  use 
of  the  adjuster  on  both  inner  and  outer  quarters,  carefully  ob- 
serving the  angle  of  each  and  the  line  of  the  wall  that  one  side 
may  be  made  uniform  with  the  other  side  in  height  and  degree 
of  obliquity. 

Next,  let  the  foot  down  to  stand  naturally  on  the  leveling 
plate,  Fig.  20,  and  view  it  from  all  sides,  to  properly  gauge  and 
determine  its  best  natural  position;  then,  with  the  compass.  Fig. 
21,  divide  the  space  between  the  line  E  and  the  heel  of  hoof 
into  two  equal  parts,  and  mark  the  points  at  base  and  at  coronet 
and  draw  a  line  to  connect  same  as  shown  by  letter  F,  Fig.  17. 
This  is  to  be  done  on  both  sides  of  quarters,  and  then,  in  the 
same  way  on  both  sides  of  the  heel  as  shown  by  letters  A,  B, 
Fig.  19. 

These  lines  are  next  to  be  accurately  measured  with  com- 
pass from  coronet  to  base  of  hoof,  or  to  face  of  leveling  plate 
on  which  it  rests,  and  the  two  opposite  lines  at  inner  and  outer 
sides  of  toe,  quarters  and  heels,  made  to  compare  and  agree  by 
marking  any  inequality  existing  and  paring  the  hoof  level  round 
the  circuit  of  the  wall  as  directed  in  a  succeeding  page  and  as 
shown  in  Fig.  23. 

This  is  always  to  be  done  with  reference  to  the  normal 
slope  of  the  pasterns  and  to  having  the  front  line  of  hoof  incline 


80  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

on  the  same  angle  with  them,  which  can  be  easily  verified  at 
any  stage  of  the  work  by  the  use  of  the  adjuster,  with  or  with- 
out the  assistance  of  the  levehng  plate. 

When  this  is  done  with  one  foot,  the  same  method  of  pro- 
cedure with  each  of  the  other  feet  will  enable  the  smith  to  bring 
them  into  precisely  the  same  good  form ;  his  work  will  also  be 
done  on  true  scientific  principles  beyond  the  criticism  of  his 
most  exacting  patron,  and  must  prove  a  boon  to  horseflesh 
generally. 

It  will,  of  course,  be  observed,  that  the  quarters  are 
straighter  or  more  upright  than  the  toe  (compare  Figs.  17  and 
18),  and  that  the  degree  of  obliquity  varies  in  almost  every 
horse,  ranging  from  45  to  56  on  front  toe  of  fore  feet,  and  per- 
haps a  little  more  for  the  hind  feet. 

But  the  main  points  to  be  impressed  here  are,  that  the 
natural  slope  of  the  pasterns  is  the  only  safe  guide  to  be  followed 
in  all  cases,  and  that  the  two  fore  feet  of  the  same  animal  should 
always  be  alike,  and  the  two  hind  feet  alike,  whatever  difference 
may  exist  between  them  otherwise.  In  this  way  the  horse  will  be 
enabled  to  tread  upon  feet  of  the  same  relative  form  in  the  same 
relative  way,  an  advantage  to  their  working  in  perfect  harmony 
over  irregular  growths  and  dressings  that  is  simply  beyond  our 
power  to  estimate. 

The  center  line  through  the  leg  and  middle  of  heel  and 
toe,  as  shown  in  each  of  these  figures,  represents  the  exact  axis 
of  all  normal  leg  and  foot  movements.  The  weight  is  precipi- 
tated in  a  direct  line  downward  through  the  center  of  the  bones 
and  joints  until  it  reaches  the  fetlock,  where  it  is  thrown  for- 
ward on  the  angle  of  incidence  formed  by  the  pasterns  and 
coffin-bone,  represented  in  Fig.  17  by  letters  G,  G.  In  a  well- 
balanced  horse,  each  foot  and  each  part  of  a  foot,  combine  to 
perform  an  equal  and  uniform  function,  and  to  carry  an  even  or 
equal  portion  of  weight  distributed  in  the  natural  way.  But 
any  unevenness  or  irregularity  of  the  base  of  the  hoof,  which 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  81 

is  the  final  point,  of  application,  will  displace  the  physical  bal- 
ance, and  a  single  alteration  in  the  proper  balancing  of  the  body 
will  result  in  a  complication  of  foot  disorders  which  may  baffle 
the  best  skill  to  remedy,  and  leave  our  burden-bearing  servants 
to  succumb  to  their  inevitable  fate.  Hence  the  benefits  to  be 
derived  from  the  use  of  these  instruments  will  be  apparent  to 
all  practical  shoers.  Instruments  of  similar  intent  and  purpose 
are  used  by  mechanics  in  every  trade,  even  when  not  dealing 
with  vital,  living  structures,  as  is  the  case  in  this  pursuit,  where 
any  deviation  from  absolute  accuracy  causes  suffering  and  un- 
relieved distress. 

Dififerent  kinds  of  Feet. — I  have  previously  indicated  that 
a  horse's  hoofs  may,  by  variation  of  growth  or  usage,  be  either 
perfect  or  imperfect,  and  these  last  may  also  be  rugged,  long, 
crooked  or  flat,  and  the  frogs  may  be  broad  or  the  heels  narrow, 
and  I  have  pointed  out  the  necessity  of  paying  due  regard  to 
each  of  these  conditions  in  determining  the  natural  form  and 
size  of  the  particular  kind  of  foot  being  dealt  with,  also  to  the 
employment  of  all  the  farrier's  care  and  address  in  bringing  it 
to  its  best  form,  as  there  are  many  apparently  trifling  circum- 
stances which  have  much  to  do  with  the  conditions  of  orderly 
soundness  and  efiicient  activity  which  are  too  often  overlooked. 

The  Natural  Model. — If  we  examine  the  natural  healthy 

feet  of  many  horses,  we  will  find  that  their  essential  shape  is 

the  same.     Some  may  have  grown  more  luxuriantly  than  others, 

it  is  true,  whereby  the  crust  will  be  deeper,  or  the  bottom  part 

may  be  worn  and  battered,  giving  the  hoof  an  uneven,  ragged 

appearance  ;  but  when  this  superfluous  or  broken  horn  has  been 

removed,  it  will  be  found  that  the  bottom  of  the  foot  is  nearly 

circular,  the  sole  concave,  the  frog  broad,  the  bars  distinct,  the 

commissures  deep  and  the  heels  expanded.     Surely  no  one  will 

dispute  that  this  form,  which  the  Creator  has  given,  is  the  most 
6 


82  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

perfect  and  far  better  adapted  to  all  purposes  than  any  that  can 
be  given  by  the  most  ingenious  farrier 

Rational  Shoeing. — When,  therefore,  we  undertake  to 
get  a  horse's  foot  into  condition,  this  rule  may  be  invariably  de- 
pended upon,  that  any  mode  of  shoeing  and  treating  the  foot 
which  has  a  tendency  to  alter  the  form  or  design  of  nature  is 
highly  absurd  and  destructive,  while  that  practice  which  best 
tends  to  the  conservation  of  its  natural  uses  is  alone  founded 
upon  sound  and  rational  principles. 

Fig.  23  shows  a  natural,  healthy  hoof  properly  prepared  for 
the  shoe,  and  clearly  indicates  the  only  parts  which  should  be 
reduced  when  a  foot  is  being  made  ready. 

Fig.  24  shows  the  upper  surface  of  the  same  hoof  with 
longitudinal  and  tranverse  lines,  indicating  the  proper  balance  of 
a  level  foot  and  the  normal  center  of  gravity  at  intersecting 
point. 

Fundamental  Principles. — It  may  be  accepted  as  a  guid- 
ing principle  that  in  a  natural  healthy  foot,  the  outside  rim  of 
the  horny  wall  and  that  small  portion  of  the  sole  immediately 
attached  to  it  on  which  the  shoe  is  to  rest,  are  the  only  portions 
of  the  foot  to  be  interfered  with  in  preparing  the  foot  for  the 
shoe,  and,  whenever  possible,  the  necessary  trimming  ought  to 
be  eftected  by  means  of  the  rasp.  Conditional  exceptions  to 
this  general  rule  are,  of  course,  to  be  fully  noted  in  my  observa- 
tions hereafter,  on  shoeing  different  kinds  of  horses,  and  in  the 
treatment  of  diseases.  Natural  physical  conditions  are  alone 
treated  of  in  this  section. 

The  feet  must  be  placed  upon  the  same  plane  and  in  pro- 
portion to  the  skill  displayed  in  this  alignment,  will  danger  of 
injury  be  avoided,  as  the  smallest  deviation  from  a  perfectly 
level  bearing  entails  disastrous  consequences,  not  only  on  the 
foot  but  on  the  entire  limb. 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  83 

Securing  the  Levels. — In  the  foot  itself,  when  the  weight 
is  borne  unevenly,  the  lowest  part  receives  an  undue  share ;  the 
pressure  retards  the  growth  and  free  play  of  the  parts,  and  the 
foot  in  consequence,  becomes,  weakened  distorted  and  deformed. 
In  the  limb,  deflected  as  it  is  by  an  uneven  basis,  from  the 
ground  surface  to  its  union  with  the  trunk,  the  incidence  of  the 
weight  is  imposed  unequally,  and  bones  and  tendons  mutually 
suffer  from  the  strain. 

The  wall,  then,  must  be  perfectly  level,  that  is,  no  more  is 
to  be  taken  from  one  side  than  from  the  other,  and  this  is  deter- 
mined by  exact  measurements  with  compass  at  opposite  points 
all  around  the  hoof,  indicated  by  the  lines  in  Fig.  23,  from  cor- 
onet to  ground  surface,  and  having  same  agree.  Details  are 
fully  given  in  connection  with  the  use  of  the  foot  adjuster,  for 
which  see  Fig.  17. 

Maintaining  the  Balance. — Also  the  foot  must  be  bal- 
anced, or  in  other  words,  from  a  line  drawn  through  the  longer 
axis  of  the  frog  the  measurements  to  opposite  points  should  be 
the  same  on  both  sides  of  the  hoof;  this  means  simply  that  a 
longitudinal  line  through  the  center  of  the  frog,  must  at  all 
points,  be  the  center  of  the  foot  or  divide  it  in  exact  halves,  as 
in  this  way  only  will  the  force  of  the  foot-fall  be  carried  through 
the  center  of  the  column  of  bones  and  be  equally  and  naturally 
distributed  upon  the  supporting  apparatus  of  bones  and  ten- 
dons and  the  weight-bearing  portions  of  the  hoof.  The  active 
principle  of  this  indispensable  arrangement  is  best  illustrated  in 
Figs.  25  and  26,  and  is  explained  with  the  use  of  instruments, 
in  Fig.  17. 

Preparing  the  Hoof. — In  thus  leveling  and  balancing  the 
foot,  my  practice  is  to  remove  only  such  portions  of  the  sole  as 
nature  is  about   to  cast  off,  that  is,  those  portions  which  are  ex- 


84  SCIEXTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

foliating  and  destitute  of  the  natural  moisture  and  flexibility 
that  exist  in  a  healthy  growth,  and  then  to  reduce  the  wall  to  a 
level  wnth  the  untouched,  healthy  or  sound  sole.  I  aim  to  have 
every  part  of  the  wall,  from  the  angle  of  the  heels  to  the  toe, 
receive  a  good,  broad,  equal  bearing  on  the  shoe,  unless  there  is 
some  special  reason  for  doing  otherwise.  With  some  feet,  hav- 
ing a  strong  healthy  growth,  this  means  a  great  deal  of  cutting 
(especially  if  shoes  have  been  worn,  and  worn  a  long  time) ;  then, 
again,  there  are  feet  which  require  very  little  reduction,  hence, 
the  w^ork  must  be  done  with  constant  and  intelligent  reference 
to  the  inclination  of  the  pasterns  as  already  prescribed.  Some- 
times the  hoof  will  grow  all  to  toe,  and  again  the  growth  at  the 
heel  will  be  more  marked,  or  the  foot  may  be  run  over  by  hav- 
ing one  side  too  high  or  the  toe  worn  off  excessivel3\  To  rectify 
this,  and  to  better  its  adjustment  a  good  plan  is  to  look  at  the 
old  shoe  to  see  where  it  has  worn  most  and  be  partly  Sfuided  by 
that.  The  point  is  to  remove  so  much  of  the  wall  as  would  be 
a  surplus  growth,  or  so  much  only  as  will  bring  it  back  to  its 
natural  form  and  adjustment.  And  this  after  all  must  depend 
upon  the  judgment,  expertness,  and  ingenuity  of  the  farrier,  w^ho 
should,  however,  never  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  if  the  heels  are 
allow^ed  to  grow  too  high,  an  excessive  strain  is  thrown  upon  the 
bones,  while  if  the  toes  are  too  long  the  tendons  suffer  in  like 
manner.  The  sharp  lower  rim  of  the  wall  should  be  rounded- 
off  justa  little  to  prevent  splinters,  and  of  course  all  stubs  or 
nails  should  be  removed. 

Opening  up  the  Heels. — The  junction  of  the  wall  with 
the  bars  affords  a  firm  natural  bearing  for  the  heel  of  the  shoe, 
and  is  to  be  rasped  level  with  the  wall  and  so  low  as  to  be  ex- 
actly even  with  the  frog,  but  the  so-called  process  of  "  opening 
up  the  heels  "  by  removing  the  bars,  is  a  most  disastrous  practice, 
to  be  strictly  avoided.  The  bars  are  the  lateral  braces  and  bind- 
ers of  the  foot,  and  the  arch  which  they  form  on  either  side 


PRACTICAL    HOESESHOEING.  85 

admirably  fits  them  to  admit  and  limit,  to  a  proper  extent,  the 
expansion  of  the  foot,  as  well  as  to  powerfully  oppose  any  dis- 
position there  may  be  in  the  hoof  to  contract,  by  assisting  the 
heels  in  retaining  their  natural  form. 

Indefensible  Practices. — There  may  be  dift'erences  of  opin- 
ion among  authorities  as  to  minor  details  in  shoeing,  but  there 
is  one  practice  not  open  to  argument,  and  which  all  alike  se- 
verely condemn,  and  that  is  the  utterly  senseless  and  atrocious 
custom  so  characteristic  of  the  common  every-day  horseshoer, 
of  thinning  out  the  sole  and  trimming  or  mutilating  the  frog. 
No  man  has  ever  been  able  to  assign  a  reason  for  acting  contrary 
to  the  first  principles  of  his  own  work  by  destroying  that  which 
he  is  aiming  to  preserve,  and  yet  this  has  been  and  is  the  most 
frequent  procedure  of  so-called  farriers  in  their  treatment  of  the 
frog  and  sole.  They  persist,  with  an  obstinacy  which  sets  com- 
mon sense  at  defiance,  in  paring  and  hollowing  out  the  sole  even 
to  the  quick,  and  to  forming  an  exact  "fine  frog,''  regardless  of 
consequences,  though  these  are  of  the  most  serious  nature  and 
aifect  the  vital  integrity  of  the  living  animal. 

Thinning  out  the  Sole. — From  the  connection,  thickness 
and  flexibility  of  the  horny  sole,  as  well  as  from  its  arch-like 
external  contour,  it  is  wholly  destined  by  nature  to  serve  as  a 
cushion  to  the  sensitive  sole  (velvety  tissue)  which  rests  upon  it. 
By  hollowing  away  the  sole  in  paring,  it  dries  and  shrinks  by 
exposure  ;  the  horse  loses  his  natural  defense  against  violent 
shocks  of  a  pavement,  or  any  kind  of  external  violence,  and 
thus  the  sensitive  sole  becomes  easily  inflamed  by  being  bruised 
or  wounded  (disease  called  villitis). 

Trimming  the  Frog. — The  horny  frog  is  also  designed  for 
contact  with  the  ground  for  the  prevention  of  jar  and  injury  to 
the  limb,  and  the  presence  of  this  thick,  elastic,  compressible 


86  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

mass  of  horn  in  a  healthy  unmutilated  condition,  permitted  to 
reach  the  ground  (while  the  animal  is  moving,  at  least),  is  abso- 
lutely essential  to  the  well-being  of  the  foot,  the  more  especially 
if  high  speed  is  desired.  The  frog  is  nature's  cushion  and  hoof 
expander  (in  connection  with  the  bars),  and  to  alter  this  state  is 
fatal  to  its  usefulness,  for  such  act  causes  it  to  shrink,  dry  and 
harden,  when,  both  as  a  cushion  and  expander  it  is  a  dead  flat 
failure.  The  frog  is  also  the  main  support  to  the  plantar  cush- 
ion, which  in  turn  supports  the  back  tendons,  so  that  without 
its  natural  pressure  the  tendons  soon  become  jaded,  inflamed  and 
swollen,  and  it  is  thus  a  main  factor  of  safety  in  traveling  or 
riding. 

Neither  the  frog  or  sole  ever  become  too  large  or  thick  by 
natural  growth  or  usage,  for  they  scale  or  cast  oif  flakes  as  they 
pass  beyond  the  life  maintaining  stage  of  the  producing  tissues, 
and  a  certain  degree  of  exposure  is  required  for  their  vitality 
and  resiliency.  In  cases  of  existing  disease,  where  resort  to  the 
drawing-knife  may  be  required  to  relieve  or  assist  the  afi^ected 
parts,  I  plainly  treat  of  such  in  the  subsequent  pages ;  but  in 
normal  conditions  the  sole  and  frog  should,  on  no  pretext  -what- 
ever, be  disturbed  by  the  shoer. 

Weight  of  the  Shoe. — Two  things  must  be  strenuously  in- 
sisted on  for  the  shoe  ;  one  is,  that  the  shoe  be  as  light  as  possible, 
and  the  other  is,  that  it  be  made  or  moulded  on  its  foot-bearing 
surface  to  an  exact  counterpart  of  the  hoof  to  which  it  is  ap- 
plied. Bearing  in  mind  that  the  original  and  legitimate  design 
of  the  shoe  is  for  the  preservation  and  defense  of  the  hoof  from 
undue  wear,  w^e  should  not  misconcieve  this  purpose  by  attaching 
to  our  horses'  feet  any  uncalled-for  weight.  Light  shoes  pro- 
portioned to  the  weight  of  the  animal  and  the  nature  of  his 
work,  are  infinitely  preferable  to  heavy  ones,  for  these  latter  are 
a  burden  at  best  and  a  constant  tax  on  the  energies  of  a  horse, 
as  is  meaningly  implied  by  the  familiar  snying  "  that  an  ounce 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  87 

at  the  toe  means  a  pound  at  the  withers."  It  is  not  surprising 
to  those  conversant  with  the  facts  that  the  majority  of  our  horses 
are  at  the  decadence  of  their  powers  when  they  should  be  at 
their  prime,  and  a  prolific  source  of  such  disability  is  the  habit- 
ual necessity  of  pounding  along  on  hard  roads,  with  over- 
weighted, iron-clad  feet,  ensuing  from  the  conventional  mode  of 
shoeing. 

Calculating  that  a  horse  going  a  fair  trot  lifts  his  feet  all 
round  sixty  times  a  minute,  and  this  with  shoes  weighing  two 
pounds  each,  the  reader  will  be  able  to  realize  how  enormous  the 
amount  is  that  can  be  unnecessarily  raised  to  the  wear  and  tear 
of  the  living  members. 

As  an  example,  suppose  a  horse  shod  with  shoes  weighing 
two  pounds  each  and  traveling  at  such  a  jog  as  requires  him  to 
lift  his  feet  all  around  once  in  a  second  or  sixty  times  a  minute, 
keeps  up  his  speed  for  five  hours,  how  much  work  does  he  per- 
form— that  is,  how  much  does  he  lift? 

Lifting  one  foot  sixty  times  a  minute ;  for  four  feet,  60  X 
4  =  240.  Lifting  two  pounds  each  time,  in  one  minute  he  will 
lift  480  pounds,  which,  multiplied  by  60,  will  make  in  one  hour 
28,800  pounds,  and  in  five  hours,  144,000  pounds,  or  72  tons. 
This  calculation  is  based  upon  the  scientific  experiments  ot 
Mons.  Bouley,  of  France. 

The  injury  of  artificial  or  excessive  weight  carried  at  the 
extremities  of  a  horse's  limbs  is  always  increased  as  the  rate  of 
speed  increases.  But  even  for  our  heaviest  draft  horses  it  is  not 
necessary  to  increase  the  concussion  and  battering,  inseparable 
from  their  bulk,  by  an  aggravation  of  several  pounds  of  metal 
on  each  foot  when  an  equal  or  greater  advantage  is  to  be  found 
in  shoes  weighing  only  half  as  much  :  and  one  may  well  be  ex- 
cused for  wondering  why  horse  owners  do  not  deal  with  this 
issue  as  one  of  self  interest. 


88  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

Form  of  the  Shoe. — The  shoe  should  have  a  perfectly 
level,  wall-bearing  surface;  but  to  mellow  and  soften  any  pres- 
sure on  the  sole  which  has  a  certain  amount  of  descent  under 
the  exertions  of  progression,  the  plane  of  the  shoe  should  be 
concaved  or  beveled  off  inwardly,  as  shown  in  Fig.  27. 

The  web  of  the  shoe  should  be  fashioned  substantially,  but 
not  unduly  wide.  Narrow-webbed  shoes  are  eminently  the  best, 
as  they  do  not  obstruct  the  growth  of  the  sole,  nor  interfere 
with  its  natural  strength  and  flexibility. 

Setting  the  Shoe. — It  is  a  common  thing  for  writers  to 
admonish  that  "the  shoe  must  be  fitted  to  the  foot,  and  not  the 
foot  to  the  shoe,"  and  it  would  seem  an  unnecessary  caution 
were  it  not  a  fact  that  the  average  farrier  only  partially  prepares 
the  foot  at  first,  leaving  the  remainder  of  the  work  to  be  done 
after  he  has  fitted  the  shoe — to  his  eye.  Any  inequalities  or 
deficiencies  then  in  the  shoe  are  either  burned  into  the  hoof  or 
it  is  rasped  ofl'  and  made,  somehow  or  other,  to  conform  to  the 
size  and  shape  of  the  shoe.  I  need  hardly  add  that  this  practice 
is  wrong,  and  that  the  outcome  of  it  is  pernicious  in  the  ex- 
treme. 

Hot  and  Cold  Fitting. — Burning  a  badly  or  even  well-ad- 
justed shoe,  to  a  badly  or  well-prepared  foot,  is  injurious,  and  is 
to  be  deprecated  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  but 
the  fusing  of  a  red-hot  shoe  to  the  foot  surface,  as  is  generally 
practiced,  can  not  be  too  severely  condemned.  Burning  the 
sole  will,  in  time,  overheat,  blister,  and  destroy  the  laminated 
and  membraneous  structures  of  the  foot,  causing  lameness  or 
intense  pain,  and  often  suppuration  and  lesion  of  the  living  tis- 
sues. The  horn  secreting  tissues  of  the  hoof  under  these  cir- 
cumstances are  impaired  or  suspended,  and  when  closely  exam- 
ined show  an  absence  of  the  cohesive  matter  which  unites  the 
healthy  fibers,  which  thus  disintegrate  and   become  hard,  dry 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  89 

and  brittle.  The  advocates  of  hot-fitting  though,  present 
many  specious  arguments  for  the  furtherance  of  the  practice. 
It  is  alleged  that  shoes  can  not  be  fitted  so  rapidly  nor  so  closely 
by  any  other  means,  and  this  is  generally  true,  for,  by  burning 
the  shoes  on,  an  accommodation  is  forced  between  the  hoof  and 
the  shoe,  and  accuracy  is  thus  secured,  but  at  the  expense  of 
the  right  growth  and  operation  of  the  foot,  and  any  one  who  is 
a  [)ractical  shoer,  with  any  knowledge  of  anatomy,  knows,  with- 
out being  told,  that  "  mild  and  careful  ''  work  in  hot-fitting  is 
rare  among  workmen,  while  its  indiscriminate  and  excessive 
use  is  a  matter  of  every-day  occurrence.  Horn,  being  a  non- 
conductor of  heat,  is  slowing  affected  by  it,  and  it  is  claimed  that 
three  minutes  burning  of  the  lower  face  of  the  sole  is  necessary  to 
produce  any  indication  of  increase  of  temperature  on  its  upper 
surface.  This  is  a  fallacy,  as  I  have  tested  and  proven  many 
times,  by  operating  upon  and  dissecting  green  specimens  with 
soles  of  varied  thicknesses,  when  by  the  application  of  hot  shoes 
for  the  specified  time,  I  found  that  the  soles  of  ordinary  depth 
were  penetrated  by  the  heat  and  the  sensitive  sole  scorched  and 
the  laminal  tissues  burned  and  charred.  In  the  living  subject 
these  effects  would  have  been  disastrous,  and  they  convinced  me 
(if  that  were  necessary)  that  the  foot  of  a  horse  is  in  no  sense  to 
be  compared  to  an  inanimate  block  of  wood  which  may  be 
carved  or  charred  at  man's  unholy  will,  or  to  suit  his  capricious 
whims. 

And  because  it  is  a  vital  organ  filled  with  life  and  feeling, 
the  necessity  which  there  is  of  thought,  care  and  skill  being  ex- 
ercised in  our  treatment  of  it,  is  pointed  out  to  us  by  the  most 
indubitable  evidences  of  nature.  The  economy  of  time  and 
labor  attained  in  the  process  of  hot-fitting  will,  I  am  sure,  never 
counterbalance  its  evil  effects.  While  it  is  probably  true  that 
more  shoes  can  be  fitted  in  a  given  time  by  hot-fitting  than  by 
cold,  that  is  no  argument  in  favor  of  its  expediency,  for  it  fol- 
lows as  a  logical  sequence  to  be  applied  here,  that  it  is  the  con- 


90  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

sistent  business  of  the  shoer  always,  to  give  form  to  the  surface 
of  the  foot  as  well  as  to  the  shoe,  and  that  the  final  test  of  skill 
and  intelligence  is  in  the  best  adaptation  of  one  to  the  other,  so 
that  the  least  possible  hurt  shall  be  done  to  the  foot. 

Fig.  28  illustrates  the  correct  way  of  fitting  a  shoe,  with 
proper  length  at  toe  and  heel,  with  foot  leveled  and  balanced,  and 
front  of  wall  in  line  with  the  natural  inclination  of  the  ankle 
from  toe  to  fetlock,  all  as  clearly  defined  in  the  section  on  the 
"use  of  the  adjuster.     (See  page  77.) 

Whenever  the  face  of  front  toe  does  not  line  out  full  and 
straight  from  coronet  to  ground  surface  by  reason  of  deficient 
growth,  excessive  wear,  or  paring  down,  the  shoe  should  be 
made  to  cover  out  in  front  to  the  line  of  the  natural  tread,  and 
thus  supply  the  deficiency  of  the  hoof.  Also,  where  a  quick 
going  over  of  the  toe  is  desired,  let  the  shoe  supply  the  same 
by  being  rolled  or  beveled  on  the  ground  surface  instead  of 
shortening  up  the  toe  of  the  hoof,  as  is  so  frequently  done. 

Adaptation  of  the  Shoe. — From  this  manner  of  setting, 
it  may  be  observed  that  dangerous  compressions  will  be  avoided 
and  the  shoe  rendered  more  secure  by  having  it  conform  to  the 
ground  tread  of  the  foot,  and  by  having  the  nails  placed  in  the 
quarters,  three  on  each  side  (directly  opposite)  being  sufficient. 
In  effect,  the  more  easy  the  shoes  set  upon  the  feet  the  more 
active  the  horse  will  be.  So  large,  long,  thick  shoes  make  him 
heavy,  unwieldy,  and  hobbling.  A  long,  wide  shoe  is  preca- 
rious, for  the  longer  the  lever  the  greater  will  be  the  drag  upon 
the  clinches  of  the  nails,  and  thus  horses  will  be  more  apt  to 
trip  and  strike  them  off.  The  body  of  the  shoe  being  unyield- 
ing, the  flexibility  of  the  hoof  yields  to  the  shoe  heel,  and  the 
thicker  the  shoe  is  and  the  more  it  covers  the  sole,  all  the  more 
subject  is  that  of  the  horse  to  meet  it,  thus  weakening  the  fet- 
locks and  heels  by  compressing  them  as  if  in  a  constant  vise, 
because  they  have  always  the  same  inflexible  point  of  support. 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEIXG.  91 

Hence,  we  learn  that  the  shoe  must  be  made  uniform  with  the 
spread  of  the  hoof,  and  perfectly  plain  or  flat  in  its  actual  bear- 
ings, in  order  to  adapt  it  to  a  close,  even  seat  all  around ;  not  too 
thick  or  wide  (varying,  however,  to  suit  the  necessities  of  the 
case,  for  a  medium-sized  horse  being  about  f  inch  thick  by  | 
inch  wide),  nor  projecting  beyond  the  natural  circuit  of  the 
ground  tread.  After  securing  a  perfect  adaptation  of  the  shoe 
to  the  foot,  the  two  levels  to  fit  each  facing,  do  not  spoil  the  job 
by  going  back  to  the  anvil,  as  many  do,  and  give  it  another  final 
hammering,  thus  altering  the  foot  surface  of  the  shoe  and  caus- 
ing a  misfit  at  the  last. 

Fullering  and  Punching. — Nail  holes  should  be  punched 
through  the  shoe  straight,  or  inclining  slightly  outward,  directly 
opposite  one  another  (except  in  cases  where  otherwise  directed), 
that  all  danger  of  cramping  the  foot  may  be  avoided  when  the 
nails  are  driven.  The  fullering  and  punching  should  not  be  too 
fine,  that  is,  too  near  the  outside  of  the  shoe,  but  suitable  for 
the  size  of  the  nails,  so  that  they  may  enter  and  fill  the  same,  as 
then  they  will  stand  sure  and  endure  longer.  If  punched 
<ioarser,  a  stronger  and  better  hold  may  be  taken  in  the  wall, 
and  the  nails  need  not  be  driven  up  so  high  as  to  prick  or  en- 
danger the  sensitive  structure. 

Concerning  the  Nails. — Never  use  inferior  nails,  for  they 
invariably  break  off  or  bend  upon  slight  occasions,  and  the 
shoe  will  work  loose  from  the  foot,  or  be  quickly  lost.  A 
good  nail  should  have  a  strong,  stiff"  neck  and  shoulder,  flat, 
thin  shank,  and  sharp  point,  without  hollowness  or  flaw,  A 
low,  short,  thick  hold  for  the  nail  is  better  both  for  the  ease  of 
the  foot  and  the  security  of  the  shoe.  Two  of  the  most  common 
evils  in  shoeing  are  using  too  many  and  too  large  nails,  and  then 
driving  them  up  too  high  in  the  wall.  The  fewest  and  smallest 
nails  that  will  insure  the  shoe  remaining  on  for  a  reasonable 


92  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

length  of  time,  is  a  rule  that  should  never  be  departed  from. 
For  if  a  perfectly  level  bearing  has  been  obtained,  as  ought  to 
be  the  case  if  my  directions  are  followed,  only  a  few  small 
nails  will  be  required  to  hold  the  shoe  securely  in  place. 

Fig.  29  shows  a  full-size,  transverse  section  of  a  hoof,  with 
shoe  fitted  and  nails  properly  driven,  to  pass  obliquely  out 
through  the  strong,  thick  part  of  the  wall,  away  from  the 
cavity  occupied  by  the  sensitive  structures  of  the  foot. 

Driving  the  Nails. — As  much  care  is  required  in  the  final 
adjustment  of  the  shoe  to  set  it  right  and  fit  the  foot  equally  in 
all  places,  the  two  middle  or  quarter-nails  should  be  driven  first,, 
with  a  few  soft  strokes  of  a  light  hammer,  till  they  are  some- 
what entered  ;  then  see  that  the  shoe  fits  the  outer  lines  of  the 
hoof  evenly  and  justly,  on  one  side  the  same  as  on  the  other,  and 
that  the  tread  is  square  and  straight.  Otherwise,  either  one  or 
both  of  the  operations — of  leveling  the  foot  and  fitting  or 
adapting  the  shoe — may  be  set  at  naught  by  a  failure  to  nail 
the  shoe  on  in  its  proper  place.  When  this  is  done,  let  the 
rest  of  the  nails  be  driven  so  that  their  points  stand  out  in 
line ;  then  cut  them  ofi'  and  clinch  them,  turning  the  clinches 
down  with  the  angle  of  the  hoof  and  hiding  them  a  little  by 
filing  or  rasping  the  wall  slightly  underneath  the  clinches  before 
laying  them  down. 

The  Finished  Work. — The  shoer's  work  is  now  supposed 
to  be  completed,  and  he  must  know  when  to  stop.  He  must  not^ 
therefore,  give  any  "finishing  touches"  to  the  hoof  by  rasping 
oft'  the  outer  crust  of  the  wall,  in  order  to  make  it  seem  round 
about  the  shoe.  An  ever-beneficent  nature  has  provided  for  the 
entire  wall  from  the  coronet  to  the  base  a  fine  film  of  natural 
horny  varnish — the  periople — which  is  necessary  for  its  protec- 
tion and  perfect  growth.  By  robbing  it  of  this  proper  horny 
coating,  the  farrier  inflicts  an  injury  on  the  foot  beyond  the 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING. 


93 


reach  of  art  to  imitate  or  repair.  Hoof  dressings  and  other  oily 
preparations  can  not  replace  the  loss  of  this  natural  healthy, 
o;lossy  layer,  and  their  use  to  polish  the  hoof  is  detrimental  to 
the  growth  or  development  of  the  horny  tissues. 


Gizes  of   Commercial   Nails,   with   Recommendations   for 

their  Various  Uses. 

^n.  -2.  For  plating  running  horses  and  colts. 

3.  For  "  training  shoes"  on  running  horses. 

4.  For  the  track  horse. 
4|.  For  the  roadster. 

5.  For  the  roadster. 

(3.  For  general  business  and  hack  horses. 

7.  For  omnibus  and  stage  horses. 

8.  For  light  draught  horses. 

9.  For  heavy  draught  horses. 

10.  r  For  the  heavier  breeds  of  draught  horses,  such  as  the 

11.  <       Norman,  wearing  extra  heavy  shoes   (from    6    to    8 

12.  I       pounds),  for  which  extra  long  nails  are  required. 


94 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


\ 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING. 


95 


Fig.  19. 


Wli?  RUSSELL'S 
FOOT  LEVELING  PLATE 
6  INCHES  SQUARE 


J 


Fig.   20. 


Fig.  21. 


96 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  22.   position  op  foot,  uplifted,  in 

THE  most  convenient  WAY  FOR  HOLDING 
SAME  IN  OBTAINING  LEVELS,  ASCERTAINING 
ITS  GRADATIONS  AND  DULY  PROPORTIONING 
IT   BEFORE   SHOEING. 


A,  A,  AVall-bearing  surface  leveled 
and  j^repared  for  the  shoe. 

B,  Cleft  of  frog,  marking  line 
through  center  of  heels  to  middle 
of  toe. 

C,  D,  C,  D,  Heels  leveled  and 
equalized  from  coronet  to  ground 
surface. 

E,  E,  The  wall  leveled  and  lined 
up  equally  from  coronet  to  base  op- 
posite the  quarters. 

F,  P,  Coronet  level  from  upper 
border  to  base  at  each  side  of  heel. 

G,  G,  Dotted  line  showing  how 
one  side  of  the  heel  may  be  twisted 
out  of  its  proper  position  by  an  un- 
equal bearing  of  the  foot,  produced 
by  uneven  wall  (high  or  low  on 
either  side),  and  improper  shoeing. 


Any  overgrowth  of  hoof  will  displace  the  natural  balance 
of  the  horse  and  cause  him  to  dispose  his  feet  in  or  out,  or 
carry  his  legs  forw^ard  or  back  in  the  direction  of  the  greatest 
bearing  point,  while  with  feet  leveled  and  balanced,  as  they 
should  be,  he  will  stand  correctly  and  move  with  ease  and  com- 
fort all  the  time. 


PKACTICAL    HORSESHOEING. 


97 


Fig.  23.  showing  under  surface  of 
a  perfect  front  hoof  properly  pre- 
pared for  the  shoe,  with  guide  lines 
for  leveling  and  balancing  the  foot. 


A,  Center  of  frog  cleft  in  line 
■with  the  insertions  of  front  and 
back  tendons,  and  parallel  to  their 
straight  line  of  movement.  B,  B, 
Line  through  longitudinal  center 
of  foot,  dividing  it  into  exact 
halves  and  indicating  middle  of 
heels  and  front  toe.  C,  C,  Line 
transversely  across  center  of  foot, 
midway  through  inside  and  out- 
side quarters.  The  point  of  inter- 
section of  these  lines  indicates  the 
normal  center  of  gravity.  D,  D, 
D,  D,  Intersecting  lines  marking 
the  width  of  inside  and  outside 
toes  and  heels.  E,  E,  Branches 
or  forks  of  the  frog  on  eitlier  side 
of  the  median  cleft.  F,  F,  Bars 
on  either  side  of  the  frog.  G,  G, 
Commissures  or  grooves  between 
the  bars  and  frog.  H,  H,  H,  H, 
Line  marking  height  of  heels  from 
coronet  to  base.  I,  I,  Concave 
surface  of  sole.  J,  J,  J,  J,  Wall- 
bearing  surface  leveled  and  pre- 
pared for  the  shoe. 


These  lines  indicate  the  main  points  where  the  wall  of  the 
hoof  is  to  be  measured  from  the  coronet  to  the  lower  rim  or 
base,  in  order  to  obtain  equal  and  exact  levels  around  the  entire 
circuit.  The  height  of  any  two  opposite  points  on  either  side 
of  line  B,  B,  must  correspond,  that  is,  the  sides  of  toe  and  heels 
and  quarters  must  be  alike  to  insure  proper  levels,  and  the 
width  from  the  converging  center,  near  point  of  frog,  to  any 
radiating  point  on  opposite  sides  must  be  equal  to  secure  a  per- 
fectly-balanced foot. 
7 


98 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.   24.     upper  surface  of   a    perfect   hoof,   corresponding  with   the 
under  surface  shown  in  the  preceding  figure. 

A,  Internal  ridge  or  spur  of  the  frog-stay  dividing  tlie  fissures. 

B,  B,  Internal  fissures,  or  depressions  between  the  bars  and  frog,  in 
which  the   plantar  cushion  finds  lodgment. 

C,  Internal  point  of  fissures  corresponding  with  external  summit  of  the 
horny  frog. 

D,  D,  Internal  surface  of  the  horny  sole. 

E,  E,  External  upper  face  of  wall. 

F,  F,  Dotted  line  indicating  thickness   of  wall. 

G,  G,  Transverse  line  across  center  of  hoof  midway  through  quarters. 
H,  H,  Longitudinal  line  through  center  of  hoof  marking  middle  of  toe 

and  heel.     The  intersection  of  these  lines  locates  the  normal  center  of  gravity. 

I,  I,  Upper  margin  of  the  coronary  band  called  the  periople  ring  and 
continuing  to  the  skin. 

J,  J,  Laminar  leaves  of  horny  tissue  coming  out  from  the  internal 
face  of   the  wall  and  extending  over  the  bars. 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING. 


99 


Fig.   25.    side  view  of  a  perfect  fore  foot  and  leg,  standing  naturally, 
after  it  is  leveled  and  balanced  according  to  directions  given. 

A,  A,  Front  or  toe  of  hoof,  lined  up  with  inclination  of  pastern,  at  an 
angle  of  about  50  degrees.  B,  B,  Angle  of  incidence,  through  axis  of  the  ter- 
minal bones,  and  center  of  foot  joints,  locating  the  normal  center  of  equipoise 
at  the  base.  C,  C,  Line  of  vertical  descent,  through  axis  of  leg  upon  which 
the  stress  of  weight  and  momentum  pass  to  fetlock  and  pastern.  D,  Center 
or  pivot  of  fetlock  joint  where  the  stress  is  imparted  or  deflected  through  the 
phalanges  of  the  foot,  and  thrown  out  on  the  bearing  surfaces  of  the  hoof. 


100 


SCIENTIFIC     HOKSESHOEING. 


A  A 

Fig.  26.  transverse  section  through  quarters  showing  the  natural 

BACK    position  OF  FRONT    FOOT  STANDING  AFTER    BEING    PREPARED    FOR   THE   SHOE 
AS   INSTRUCTED. 


A,  A,  Base  or  spread  of  the  hoof  accurately  leveled  and  balanced. 

B,  B,  Upper  border  of  hoof  showing  levels  at  coronet. 

C,  C,  Cutigeral  groove  or  cavity  in  which  the  coronary  cushion  rests. 

D,  Interior  fissure  in  which  the  plantar  cushion  is  imbedded. 

E,  External  projection  of  summit  of  horny  frog  near  center  of  sole. 

F,  P,  Vertical  line  cast  through  axis  of  the  bony  column  locating  the 
normal  center  of  gravity  in  a  balanced  foot. 

G,  G,  Wall  of  hoof  across  the  quarters,  lined  up  on  both  sides,  equally 
from  coronet  to  base. 

H,  H,  Arch  of  horny  sole  crowning  the  ground  surface. 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING. 


101 


Fig.  27.     front  foot  shoe  for  general  road  or  business  purposes. 


This  shoe  may  be  regarded  as  a  standard  pattern  for  gen- 
eral use,  and  should  be  about  f  in.  thick  x  |  in.  wide,  to  weigh  12 
ounces,  varying  when  necessary  to  suit  the  horse  to  which  it 
is  applied.  The  above  view  shows  a  good  flat  wall-bearing  sur- 
face and  the  inner  rim  concaved  or  beveled  to  avoid  pressure  on 
flat,  soft,  or  weak-soled  feet.  For  ordinary  driving  six  nails  are 
sufiicient,  three  on  each  side  placed  opposite  each  other  in  the 
quarters  as  indicated.  The  shoe  should  fit  the  toe  and  heel  and 
follow  the  circle  of  the  wall  neatly,  and  the  ends  of  the  branches 
are  to  rest  strongly  on  the  bars  at  each  side  of  the  heels.  The 
ground-bearing  surface  of  this  shoe  should  ordinarily  be  per- 
fectly flat. 


102 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


^Tf^t-jar*.     •    I  ■      ••;'  S-i' V'l 


Fig.  28.  natural  position  of  a  perfect  fore  foot  on  the  ground, 
leveled,  balanced  and  rightly  fitted  with  shoe  in  accordance  avith 
the  rules  laid  down. 

This  figure  shows  to  advantage  the  proportions  of  a  symmetrial  foot  and 
pasterns  of  right  size,  length,  and  slope  to  give  the  desired  strength,  vigor,  and 
suppleness.  It  will  be  observed  that  the  angle  of  the  hoof  at  toe  and  heel  are 
continuous  with  the  natural  bias  of  the  pastern,  and  that  thus  the  poise  of 
the  leg  and  foot  is  unconstrained  and  perfectly  adapted  to  sustain  the  weigh  t 
and  perform  the  functions  of  locomotion  with  ease,  comfort  and  security. 
The  shoe  is  adjusted  to  the  natural-ground  tread  of  the  foot  following  the  circuit 
of  toe,  heel  and  sides,  being  affixed  with  three  nails  directly  opposite  one  an- 
other on  each  side.  In  this  way  the  foot  lands  evenly,  the  strain  is  equally 
distributed  between  the  bones  and  tendons,  the  expansion  is  uniform  all 
around,  and  all  danger  of  foot  or  leg  soreness  is  entirely  avoided. 


i 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING. 


103 


Fig.  29.     full  size,  transverse  section,  through  hoop  near  the  heel, 

SHOWING  actual  THICKNESS  OF  THE  VARIOUS  PARTS  IN  A  HOOP  OF    MEDIUM  SIZE. 

A,  A,  Thickness  of  wall  at  quarters. 

B,  B,  External  junction  of  bars  and  sole  at  base  of  wall. 

C,  C,  C,  C,  Continuation  of  bars,  overarching  and  joining  themselves  to 
the  frog  and  sole. 

D,  D,  External  bulbs  of  tlie  frog  forks  divided  by  the  cleft. 

E,  Internal  frog-stay  or  spur  projecting  into  the  thick  part  of  the  plantar 
cushion. 

F,  F,  Internal  fissures  divided  by  the  frog-stay,  designed  to  receive  the 
plantar  cushion. 

G,  G,  Internal  cavities  which  form  the  seat  of  the  wings  of  the  coffin-bone. 
H,  H,  External  gaps,  called  commissures,  separating  the  bars  and  frog. 
K,  K,  Ciitigeral  groove,  or  cavity,  in  which  the  coronary  cushion  rests. 
S,  S,  Shoe  properly  applied  on  the  level  bearing  provided  by  the  under 

rim  of  wall,  with  the  nails  driven  at  right  inclination  to  take  a  strong,  short 
hold  and  come  out  of  the  wall  with  the  least  injury  to  its  fibers  and  without 
hurtfuUy  compressing  the  sensitive  structures  of  the  foot. 


The  marginal  line  surrounding  the  hoof  shows  its  relative 
angles  and  levels  with  the  rectangular  border. 


103a  SCIExNTIFlC    HORSESHOEING. 

Practical  Balance  of  the  Foot  and  Leg. — The  principal 
points  demanded  in  the  training  and  development  of  a  perfect 
and  sound  horse  are,  for  a  driving  horse  speed  and  endurance, 
and  for  a  draught  horse,  strength  and  endurance.  How  can 
the  utmost  speed  or  greatest  strength  with  endurance  be  best 
attained  ?  These  are  the  ends  aimed  at  by  the  skillful  and  ex- 
perienced farrier,  and  after  the  practical  experience  of  a  lifetime 
extending  beyond  the  allotted  years  of  man,  I  am  ready  from 
that  practical  experience,  and  from  my  observation  of  the  prac- 
tical experience  of  others,  to  give  to  the  world  what  measure 
of  practical  knowledge  has  come  to  me  in  the  way  of  the  devel- 
opment of  speed,  or  strength,  with  endurance,  of  the  highest 
class  in  the  horse. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  undeniable  that  the  whole  value  of  a 
horse  depends  primarily  and  always  upon  the  soundness  of  the 
feet  and  legs;  and  in  the  second  place,  upon  the  skill,  compe- 
tency, and  good,  practical  judgment  of  the  farrier.  The  most 
important  thing  the  farrier  should  know  is  that  the  more  equal- 
ity of  pressure  obtained  at  all  points  of  the  feet  and  legs,  at 
each  footfall,  the  greater  will  be  the  speed,  or  the  more  effective 
the  strength,  with  endurance,  attained — and  this  stands  to 
reason.  There  are  three  very  essential  points  which  he  should 
bear  in  mind  to  attain  to  these  desiderata.  First,  the  farrier 
should  know  how  to  obtain  accurately  the  natural  angle  of  the 
foot — that  is  to  say,  he  should  know  when  to  cut  and  where  to 
stop  cutting.  Such  a  man  is  master  of  his  trade.  For  any 
damage  to  a  horse  from  a  neglect  or  ignorance  in  this  particular 
can  only  be  repaired  by  time,  which  means  loss  of  money  to  the 
owner,  if  not  lasting  injury  or  death  even  to  the  horse.  The 
proper  preparation  of  the  horse's  foot  for  the  shoe  is  there- 
fore of  paramount  importance  in  farriery.  The  horse's  hoof 
corresponds  to  the  human  finger  nail,  and  a  perfect  knowledge 
of  the  hoof  can  only  be  obtained  by  dissection  ;  and  it  is  much 
more  humane  to  acquire  that  knowledge  by  operating  upon  the 


PRACTICAL    HOKSESHCEIXG.  103^ 

dead  subject  than  upon  the  living  animal,  as  lias  frequently 
been  done.  Any  one  can  attest  to  the  pain  and  annoyance  of 
having  the  finger  nail  cut  to  the  quick,  and  yet  our  suffering  i^' 
as  naught  to  that  of  the  horse  who  has  undergone  the  same 
operation. 

Before  proceeding  to  dress  the  hoof,  observations  should  bo 
taken  from  in  front  of  as  well  as  the  rear  of  the  horse,  to  ascer- 
tain whether  the  foot  is  directly  underneath  the  leg — that  is,  if 
the  center  line  of  the  foot  is  in  the  same  vertical  with  the  leg; 
then  from  either  side  take  notice  of  the  vertical  line,  and 
whether  the  upper  and  lower  pasterns  are  on  a  line  with  the 
front  wall  of  the  foot,  when  the  horse  stands  on  a  level  floor ; 
that  is,  to  see  whether  the  leg  tilts  in  or  out.  In  either  case  the 
hoof  is  not  level  on  the  ground  surface.  Equalize  by  sight  as 
acute  as  possible  the  wall,  and  determine  how  much  should  be 
removed  by  the  rasp  and  at  what  point  or  points,  in  order  to 
obtain  the  desired  equal  bearing  on  a  level  surface;  then  pro- 
ceed to  remove  the  superfluous  horn.  In  dressing  or  paring  the 
feet,  so  as  to  obtain  equal  heights  for  the  front  feet  and  also  for 
the  hind  feet,  the  eye  can  not  be  trusted.  Guesswork  must  now 
cease ;  mathematical  accuracy  is  demanded.  This  can  only  be 
obtained  by  resorting  to  the  use  of  mathematical  instruments, 
and  for  this  purpose  the  six-inch  compass,  foot  and  heel  adjust- 
ers, have  been  invented  and  adopted  (pp.  94  and  95).  The 
method  of  procedure  described  on  pages  77,  78,  79,  80,  81, 
shows  the  use  of  the  instruments.  The  front  feet  being  of  the 
same  length  from  the  top  of  the  coronet  to  the  ground  tread, 
and  shoes  of  exactly  equal  weight  being  used,  the  stride  of  the 
front  feet  will  be  of  the  same  length  at  each  footfall  when  up  to 
speed.  The  correct  rule  for  the  angles  of  the  front  feet  to  be 
observed  is,  when  the  former  stand  at  an  angle  of  48  degrees, 
the  latter  should  be  at  50  degrees,  for  the  reason  that  the  hind 
legs  constitute  the  propelling  powers  of  the  horse.  This  has 
been  my  never-failing  rule 


103c  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

Before  going  into  detailed  description  of  the  different  con- 
formations of  feet  met  with  in  our  daily  work,  we  will  assume 
that  every  animal  had  perfect  feet,  or  we  will  take  a  colt  never 
shod,  and  go  with  him  through  life ;  and  we  will  also  assume 
that  it  is  impossible  to  adjust  a  shoe  to  the  horse's  foot  without 
some  injury  to  that  part  of  his  anatomy.  Now  the  duty  of  the 
farrier  is  to  reduce  that  injury  to  a  minimum,  so  that  the  shoe- 
ing will  not  shorten  the  career  of  the  horse  or  reduce  his  value. 

The  parts  of  the  foot  to  be  carefully  observed  are  the  wall, 
flole,  frog,  and  the  angle  of  obliquity  of  the  wall  at  the  toe, 
which  varies  in  different  animals.  The  breed,  labor,  and  also 
the  roads  on  which  he  works,  play  an  important  part,  and  each 
case  must  be  treated  in  a  different  manner.  The  horse  that 
works  on  the  farm  will  travel  sound  and  show  no  inconvenience 
with  shoes  that  would  lame  him  on  artificial  paved  streets  and 
roads,  and  again  the  shoes  used  in  our  cities  would  not  answer 
for  the  agriculturist;  the  latter  are  too  long,  and  are  liable  to 
be  pulled  off  in  the  soft  ground.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  same 
careful  preparation  of  the  foot  for  the  shoe  should  always  be 
demanded.  Too  strict  adherence  to  these  rules  can  not  be  ob- 
served, to  insure  sound  feet  and  legs. 

The  angle  of  the  wall  varies  in  different  animals;  what 
that  angle  should  be  in  each  instance  must  be  determined  by  a 
lateral  survey  of  the  foot  and  leg,  so  as  to  have  the  strain  or 
weight  equally  divided.  If  the  toe  is  too  long,  the  flexor  ten- 
dons and  suspensory  ligaments  are  overtaxed.  If  the  toe  is  too 
short  and  the  heels  are  too  high,  there  will  be  damage  done  to 
the  bones  and  ligaments  of  the  joints.  As  a  consequence  the 
animal  will  be  deprived  of  that  elastic,  bounding,  graceful  foot- 
step, which  is  so  beautiful  in  the  colt,  and  results  from  a  well- 
halanced  foot.  In  removing  the  horn,  as  the  wall  and  sole  are 
rasped  off  together,  a  line  of  demarcation  will  present  itself 
about  three-eighths  to  one-half  an  inch  from  the  outer  edge  of 
the  wall.     This  line  shows  where  the  sole  abuts;  it  is  united  to 


PRACTICAL    HORSESHOEING.  lOSd 

the  wall,  and  is  of  value  as  a  guarding  point,  showing  how 
much  of  the  crust  can  be  removed  with  safety.  The  dividing 
line  will  show  the  outer  wall  thicker  at  the  toe  than  at  the 
quarters  or  heels;  shorten  or  reduce  it  by  careful  manipulation 
of  the  rasp  against  the  edge  of  the  crust  to  an  equal  thickness 
all  around  with  the  plantar  surface  of  the  foot  in  view ;  then 
turn,  and  with  the  hoof  placed  on  the  knee,  smooth  the  lower 
edge  of  the  wall,  to  obtain  the  desired  results.  If  the  foot  is 
balanced,  the  weight  is  equally  distributed  on  the  laminated 
tissue. 

Each  portion  of  the  anatomical  structure  bears  its  share  of 
labor  and  performs  the  functions  nature  intended  in  a  rational 
manner.  The  external  portion  of  the  hoof  is  a  modified  con- 
tinuation of  the  outer  or  scarp  skin,  with  similar  functions  to 
prevent  evaporation  of  moisture  and  protect  the  sensitive  struc- 
ture, beneath  which,  if  too  much  of  nature's  protecting  envelope 
be  removed,  a  sensitive  surface  is  the  result.  The  outer  wall  is 
more  liable  to  become  hard,  dry  and  brittle,  and  lose  that  elastic 
spring,  where  the  shoe,  never  intended  for  it  by  nature,  is  at- 
tached to  the  foot.  If  the  foot,  as  a  rule,  is  kept  properly  bal- 
anced, we  seldom  meet  with  lame  horses. 

The  frog  is  composed  of  spongy  horn  placed  in  the  center 
of  the  foot  between  the  bars,  beneath  the  column  of  bone,  and 
when  in  a  healthy  condition  is  very  elastic.  Its  office  is  to 
break  concussion,  and  under  no  circumstances,  except  for  a 
surgical  operation,  should  it  be  touched  with  a  knife.  Too 
strict  adherence  to  this  rule  can  not  be  enforced.  l^Tot  even  the 
rags  should  be  removed;  if  left  alone  they  will  do  no  injury 
and  come  off  at  the  proper  time. 

The  bars  are  a  continuation  of  the  wall,  bent  at  a  very 
acute  angle,  at  the  heels.  They  form  stays  to  the  quarters  and 
should  be  cut  with  judgment — that  is  to  say,  that  portion  which 
projects  below  the  solo,  especially  on  heavy  draft  horses  work- 
ing on  city  pavements.     These   are  more  liable  to  be   afflicted 


103e  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING.      . 

with  what  is  termed  brokea  bars,  similar  to  quarter  cracks ;  but 
the  latter  are  in  the  external  portions  of  the  hoof,  although  they 
may  penetrate  deeply  into  the  soft  tissue,  often  producing  lame- 
ness. This  sole,  like  the  frog,  exfoliates,  and  when  left  to  na- 
ture the  old  horn  is  cast  off  at  intervals  as  the  new  is  strong 
enough  to  take  its  place.  But  when,  after  the  foot  has  been 
shod,  the  squamous  tissue  is  protected  from  wear  and  held  in 
place  by  the  protecting  shoe,  that  dead  portion  should  be  re- 
moved; but  do  not  use  the  knife  too  freely.  The  sole  should 
be  left  as  strong  as  possible  in  perfect  feet. 

It  goes  without  saying  that  the  after  usefulness  of  a  horse 
depends  upon  the  good  judgment  and  practical  experience  of 
the  farrier  shoeing  him.  It  is  not  a  question  of  how  cheap,  but 
how  good?  As  the  old  adage  holds:  Anything  half  done  is 
not  done  ;  "  any  thing  well  done  is  twice  done." 

As  to  shoeing  speed  horses,  no  man  can  intelligently  shoe 
one  without  seeing  him  in  harness;  and,  while  standing  in 
front,  he  should  watch  him  as  he  approaches  and  passes,  and 
notice  how  he  picks  up  his  feet  and  puts  them  down  on  the 
ground.  If  the  horse's  motion  is  level  and  smooth,  his  front 
and  hind  strides  will  be  of  the  same  length;  if  he  is  hitching 
and  hopping  behind,  these  strides  are  unequal.  A  skillful, 
practical  horseshoer  can  overcome  this  by  close  observation. 
Again,  the  farrier  may  have  properly  balanced  the  feet;  but  the 
driver  can  undo  all  the  good  done  by  unbalancing  the  body  in 
checking  up  the  head  too  high.  The  fault  may  not  be  in  the 
shoeing,  but  with  the  driver. 

To  balance  the  foot  and  leg  is,  tnerefore,  the  first  and  all- 
important  step,  before  shoeing.  And  the  work  will  not  be 
complete  or  well  done  until  they  are  made  to  stand  directly 
underneath  the  body,  as  before  enjoined.  To  neglect  this  is  the 
greatest  mistake,  from  which  certainly  may  result  any  of  the 
diseases  which  impair  the  foot  and  leg,  and  ultimately,  if  not  at 
once,  ruin  the  liorse. 


PRACTICAL    HOKSESHOEIXG.  103/" 

The  next  and  equally  important  point  is  to  make  and  fit  the 
shoe  to  suit  the  diseased  condition  of  the  foot  and  leg,  so  when 
the  shoe  is  nailed  to  the  foot  the  horse  will  stand  with  his  feet 
and  legs  naturally  under  the  body.  AVhen  this  is  done,  two- 
thirds  of  the  victory  is  gained,  I  have  never  seen  any  disease 
of  the  foot  and  leg  where  there  was  a  permanent  cure  effected, 
unless  the  foot  and  leg  were  made  to  stand  naturally  under  the 
body. 

My  sole  object  in  getting  out  the  fourth  edition  of  my 
treatise  on  Scientific  Horseshoeing  is  to  give  my  former  as  well 
as  other  patrons  the  benefit  of  the  new  illustrations,  showing 
the  different  diseases  to  which  the  feet  and  legs  are  subjected. 
As  I  maintain  always,  seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  foot  and  leg 
diseases  are  caused  from  unbalanced  feet. 


104  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


CHAPTER   V. 
SHOEING  YOUNG  HORSES. 

TO  BALANCE  AND  BEGULATE  ACTION  AND  GAIT. 

Conditions  of  Action. — Not  to  go  too  deep  into  the  liter- 
ature of  the  subject,  it  seems  that  the  walk,  trot,  and  gallop  have 
always  been  the  natural  gaits  common  to  horses,  influenced  by 
their  environments  and  the  nature  of  the  ground  over  which 
they  traveled.  On  the  other  hand,  the  ingenuity  of  man  has 
evolved  various  breeds  and  given  them  difterent  phases  of  ac- 
tion, in  order  that  certain  demands  not  naturally  existing,  but 
arising  in  a  later  day  civilization,  might  be  fitted.  This  shows 
that  the  quality  or  characteristic  of  action  is,  in  a  measure,  ar- 
tificial, because  as  soon  as  the  natural  necessity  for  any  specified 
gait  ceases  to  exist,  the  gait  ceases  with  it,  unless  training  by 
man  is  substituted  for  the  original  demand.  At  the  present 
day,  therefore,  we  notice  that  all  breeds  of  horses  are  distin- 
guished by  some  special  method  of  action,  which  is  an  essential 
factor  in  determining  the  intrinsical  and  fancy  value  of  any  of 
their  representatives.  The  trotter  that  can  not  trot,  or  the 
hackney  that  can  not  lift  his  knees  and  hocks,  is  generally  an 
unsalable  commodity.  It  would  serve  no  special  purpose  to  go 
more  fully  into  the  details  of  this  section.  What  I  am  most 
anxious  to  show  is  that  the  natural  conditions  of  the  ground 
over  which  horses  must  travel  should  regulate  their  gaits,  and 
that  for  any  given  method  of  progression  the  proper  style  of 
shoes  must  be  adapted  and  applied  with  a  nice  intelligence  so 
that  the  exercise  of  their  legs  and  feet  may  be  fully  sustained 
without  violent  waste  of  eftbrt.  In  animated  beings,  soundness 
of  parts  and  liberty  of  movement  constitute  the  perfection  of 


SHOEING    YOUNG     HORSES.  105 

existence  ;  hence  it  becomes  a  paramount  duty  that  the  training 
and  gaiting  of  horses  be  primarily  conducted  within  this  scope, 
a  prerequisite  of  which  is  the  observance  of  certain  rational  de- 
tails appertaining  to  the  aifairs  of  shoeing  which  all  horsemen 
should  understand. 

Care  bestowed  in  Colthood. — While  attention  is  being 
continually  drawn  to  the  foot  of  the  horse  after  it  is  shod,  few 
references  are  made  to  the  hoof  of  the  shoeless  colt.  The  lat- 
ter is,  by  some  peculiar  oversight,  left  to  take  care  of  itself,  as  if 
it  required  no  preparation  whatever  in  the  early  stages  of  its 
existence.  Consequently  the  limbs  and  action  of  many  young 
colts  are  impaired  from  neglect  of  proper  supervision  of  the 
most  important  of  all  his  aids  to  locomotion — his  hoofs.  I  have 
visited  many  breeding  establishments  of  racing  stock,  where  the 
last  consideration  of  the  proprietors  appeared  to  be  the  import- 
ance of  supplying  conditions  under  which  the  feet  of  their 
youngsters  could  have  every  chance  of  proper  development. 
Many  times  there  may  be  seen  promising  two-  or  three-year  olds- 
with  ragged,  uneven  feet,  growing  into  all  shapes  but  the  right, 
when  the  most  simple  early  attention  would  avert  disease  or  de- 
formity. If  the  bearing  surface  of  the  young  animal's  foot  is. 
uneven,  it  most  surely  results  in  weakness  of  the  limb  or  visible 
deformity  when  he  arrives  at  maturity.  Defective  hoofs  are  of 
as  a  serious  nature  in  the  immature  colt  as  in  the  full-grown  or 
aged  horse,  and  as  much  to  be  counteracted  as  in  the  horse  reg- 
ularly shod  by  the  expert  shoeing  smith,  and  neglect  may  bring 
regret  at  a  later  day  ;  for,  in  the  case  of  the  former,  permanent 
injury  is  the  result  of  inattention.  He  may  grow  in  or  out  at 
the  toes,  either  calf  kneed,  bent  kneed,  or  knock  kneed,  just  as 
the  bearing  surface  of  the  hoof  maintains  its  relations  to  the 
joints,  ligaments  and  tendons  of  the  limb  of  which  it  is  the  base. 

First  Trial  of  Shoes. — The  horse's  hoof  is  after  all  a  good 


106  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

deal  of  what  we  make  it,  and  if  our  horses  from  colthood  up, 
had  their  feet  more  carefully  attended  to,  the  period  of  their  ac- 
tive usefulness  would  be  greatly  extended,  and  in  every  way  they 
would  be  found  better  suited  for  the  work  required  of  them.  I 
am  in  a  position  to  know  some  of  the  main  causes  that  are  re- 
sponsible for  imperfections  of  gait  and  action  in  horses,  and  one 
of  the  foremost  among  them  is  the  first  shoes  that  are  put  upon  a 
youngster.  To  shoe  a  colt  for  the  first  time  and  shoe  him  scientifi- 
cally, put  a  very  light  shoe  on  him,  and  every  shoe  the  same 
weight  front  and  hind,  then  you  have  your  horse  balanced  per- 
fectly, as  nature  made  him,  and  if  pure  gaited  he  can  always  be 
shod  so.  Afterward  if  he  betrays  a  lack  of  balance,  faulty  ac- 
tion, or  an  uneven  gait,  a  driver  of  keen  observation  can  cer- 
tainly discover  the  imperfections  and  apply  the  proper  correct- 
ives. To  force  a  change  in  his  way  (^f  going  must  be  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  joints  and  tendons.  For  if  the  articulation  is  such 
that  the  limb  is  forced  to  go  in  a  wrong  direction,  any  irregular 
or  increased  weisrhting  of  the  foot  to  force  it  to  2;o  in  a  difterent 
direction  will  undoubtedly  result  in  serious  trouble.  A  broken 
gait  and  unbalanced  movement  comes  from  some  evident  cause. 
Remove  that  cause  and  the  ill  effects  quickly  disappear,  and  the 
animal  becomes  comfortable  in  his  action,  with  the  result  of 
an  increased  desire,  as  also  increased  capacity  to  speed  faster, 
and  in  such  a  smooth,  rythmical  w^ay  that  it  becomes  a  real 
pleasure  to  the  noble  animal. 

Modifications  of  Action. — In  the  course  of  my  long  ex- 
perience as  a  shoer,  I  have  necessarily  had  a  great  deal  to  do  by 
adaptation  of  shoes  to  the  balancing  and  trueing  of  irregular 
and  mixed  gaited  horses,  representing  every  type  and  condition 
of  foot  soundness  and  soreness.  I  have  thus  come  in  contact 
w^ith  many  horses  where  the  cause  of  such  disordered  action 
seemed  obscure,  or  where  the  true  seat  of  trouble  had  its  origin 
or  location  elsewhere,  while  apparently  leaving  its  mark  or  mak- 


SHOEING   YOUNG   HORSES.  107 

ing  its  sign  at  the  extremities  of  the  limbs.  It  is  proper  to  sug- 
gest, therefore,  that,  when  beginning  examinations  at  these 
points  and  failing  to  identify  the  trouble,  you  should  not  sus- 
pend investigations  without  subjecting  other  regions  of  the  limbs 
and  trunk  to  a  close  scrutiny,  until  the  real  cause  of  the  ailment 
is  discovered  and  you  have  satisfactorily  remedied  it  before  per- 
manent injury  ensues  from  neglect  or  inadvertence.  It  may  be 
that  the  horse  is  not  well-balanced  in  physical  build.  If  the 
shoulders  are  very  straight  the  feet  will  not  be  properly  flexed, 
nor  will  they  if  the  pasterns  are  short  and  upright.  He  may 
have  long  legs  and  a  short  reach  underneath,  or  he  may  have 
long,  sloping  or  weak  pasterns  and  be  unnaturally  close  coupled 
in  the  back,  or  exceptionally  open-angled  from  hip  to  hock. 
Also  he  may  be  long  in  his  sweeps  behind  or  he  may  carry  his 
head  too  high  or  too  low  for  a  proper  balance  on  his  limbs,  and 
any  one  of  these  so-called  structural  defects — by  insufficiency  or 
misdirection  of  purpose — may  give  rise  to  a  derangement  in  the 
movement  of  extention  or  flexion,  to  take  eflect  in  action  or  gait, 
or  may  lead  to  injury  of  the  feet  or  limbs,  as  I  will  amplify  in 
the  section  on  "  Faults  of  Conformation." 

Care  of  Horses'  Mouths. — Illustrations  in  point  of  prob- 
able or  remote  causes  assisting  to  disturb  the  action  and  break 
the  gait  of  horses — which  shoeing  will  avail  nothing  whatever 
toward  remedying — may  be  found  in  the  horse's  mouth. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  sensitive  organs  of  the  equine  econ- 
omy. All  young  horses  coming  three  or  four  years  old  should 
have  their  mouths  and  teeth  carefully  examined  when  any 
symptoms  of  tenderness  or  irritation  are  shown,  as  it  is  at  this 
age  that  some  of  the  deciduous  molars  are  replaced  by  the  per- 
manent teeth.  In  some  cases  this  gives  rise  to  much  pain  and 
annoyance  to  horses,  aflecting  their  temper  and  sensibility. 
Again,  in  some  horses,  the  structure  of  the  teeth  is  of  a  compar- 
atively soft  nature,  and  wears  upon  the  grinding  substances  in 
8 


108  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

a  ragged  and  uneven  manner,  which  severely  cuts  and  lacerates 
the  tongue  and  cheeks,  or,  by  a  driver  repeatedly  lugging  on 
one  rein  or  the  other,  hard,  sharp,  spur-like  points  are  formed 
or  irregularly  grown  on  the  borders  of  the  teeth,  which  become 
an  exciting  cause  of  injury  to  the  gums  and  membranes  of  the 
mouth,  impairing  the  natural  processes  of  mastication  and  con- 
tributing at  the  same  time  to  a  bad  way  of  going;  also,  the  ani- 
mal may  suft'er  from  toothache,  due  to  a  displaced  crown  of  a 
temporary  molar,  or  from  ulceration,  which  will  cause  it  to 
champ  fretfully  upon  the  bit  and  lurch  to  one  side  in  such  a  sud- 
den manner  that  he  "looses  his  feet,"  by  becoming  bad  in  his 
action  and  tangled  in  his  gait.  If  a  horse  pulls  his  head  and 
neck  out  of  line  with  the  median  plane  of  his  body  the  hind 
limb  on  that  side  is  correspondingly  misdirected,  and  its  foot 
is  forced  to  land  between  the  front  ones  instead  of  in  line  with 
them,  this  cross-liring  naturally  impairs  the  steadiness  of  his  gait 
and  injuries  are  liable  to  occur  from  it.  If  a  humane  treatment 
of  the  teeth  is  pursued  by  people  who  own  horses  they  will  ob- 
viate these  changes  of  locomotion,  and  at  the  same  time  be 
amply  repaid  by  the  improved  appearances  of  their  animals 
through  proper  mastication  of  their  food  and  in  their  general 
order  of  movement. 

Handling  Young  Horses. — In  gaiting  young  horses,  much 
lies  in  the  understanding  how  to  equip  and  handle  them.  A 
driver  or  trainer  can  make  or  unmake  the  "  thoroughbred  close 
up,"  as  he  is  wise  to  see  that  which  is  good,  proves  it  worth,  and 
holds  fast  to  much  that  is  tried,  until  it  grows  from  the  stage  of 
experiment  to  law  of  permanent  action.  A  horse  may  have 
plenty  of  spirit  and  yet  be  free  from  the  undesirable  habits  of 
shying,  breaking  his  gait  and  losing  his  balance,  if  the  reins  are 
made  to  deliver  their  right  message.  You  might  take  a  good 
horse,  properly  shod,  and  handle  him  like  some  cranky  drivers 
do,  and  you  could  never  judge  just  how  a  horse  would  best  han- 


SHOEING    YOUNG     HORSES.  109 

die  himself.  The  horse  that  is  least  governed  is  the  best  gov- 
erned, when  you  want  to  get  at  the  point  of  how  light  or  how 
heavy  his  shoes  should  be  to  get  the  best  speed  and  style  of  ac- 
tion. Trotters  are  changed  to  pacers  and  pacers  are  changed  to 
trotters  simply  by  an  adaptation  of  shoes  to  the  animal's  way 
of  going,  and  instances  are  on  record  of  horses  trotting  in  one 
race  and  pacing  in  another,  the  change  being  effected  simply 
by  shoeing.  It  is  true  that  this  can  not  always  be  effected  for 
some  families  pace  naturally,  and  again  it  is  nearly  impossible 
to  make  a  pure  square  line  trotter  into  a  pacer,  but  some  have 
naturally  an  interchangeable  gait,  and  if  the  possibilities  of 
scientific  shoeing  were  more  thoroughly  understood,  we  would 
see  less  crooked-legged,  knee-padded,  tendon-booted  horses  led 
out  to  display  their  forced  speed,  and  its  utilities  would  make 
their  own  demonstration  in  every  department  of  horse  enterprise. 

Determining  the  Gait. — You  can  not  have  strained  ten- 
dons, swelled  joints,  and  irregular-gaited  horses  if  the  feet  are 
trued  and  balanced  and  the  shoe  properly  adjusted  to  carry  out 
the  balance.  Do  this,  and  their  action  will  be  true  and  their 
gait  equably  sustained  all  the  time. 

In  developing  a  horse's  gait  and  speed,  shoeing  is  a  matter 
of  the  utmost  importance,  and  one  which  requires  the  greatest 
study  and  care.  It  is,  in  fact,  half  the  battle.  Careful,  patient 
experimentation,  extending  over  many  days,  or  even  weeks^ 
may  be  necessary  to  ascertain  these  points.  Not  until  they  have- 
been  ascertained  and  safely  met  is  the  colt  ready  for  a  "  trial  of 
speed,"  or  for  the  adjustment  of  any  settled  gait.  For  a  green 
colt,  no  matter  how  pure-gaited  he  may  be,  is  almost  certain  to- 
cut  his  shins  or  his  knees  by  striking  them  with  his  feet  when; 
he  begins  to  travel  at  a  high  rate  of  speed.  The  skillful  horse- 
man will  carefully  study  all  these  varying  points.  The  shoeing 
will  largely  depend  upon  the  individual  necessities  of  the  an- 
imal and  other  similar  conditions. 


IIU  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

Regulating  the  Gait. — With  a  view  to  correcting  and  bal- 
ancing with  proper  shoes  and  weights  any  faults  he  may  have, 
carefully  note  every  point  in  the  action  of  a  young  horse  while 
giving  him  a  little  preliminary  driving.  If  the  action  is  dispro- 
portionate, or  the  propelling  power  of  the  hind  limbs  excessive 
and  their  stride  longer  or  more  rapid  than  that  of  the  front 
ones,  their  movements  can  be  regulated  and  equalized  in  this 
way.  The  feet  must  first  be  leveled  and  balanced  in  the  manner 
provided  for  when  shoeing  the  perfect  foot.  (Fig.  23.)  Very 
light  shoes  are  then  to  be  put  on  all  round.  For  the  front  feet, 
use  the  pattern  of  scoop-toe  shoe  seen  in  Fig.  121,  as  this  will 
quicken  their  revolution.  Then,  by  using  the  shoe  (Fig.  139)  for 
the  hind  feet,  having  the  ends  of  the  branches  calked  length- 
wise and  turned  outward  beyond  the  heel  h  inch  or  more,  the 
flexion  and  extension  of  these  limbs  will  be  retarded  to  a  desfree 
that  will  accommodate  them  to  the  difference  in  movement  of 
the  front  limbs. 

In  all  such  instances,  however,  the  weight  of  the  shoes 
must  be  adapted  to  suit  the  style  of  action,  some  horses  requir- 
ing more  and  some  less  weight,  to  fulfill  the  purpose  in  view. 
In  cases  where  light  shoes  fail,  or  where  the  horse  has  a  low, 
swift  gait  behind  and  does  not  use  his  hocks  sufliciently,  it  is 
necessarv  to  shoe  heavier  behind  than  in  front — the  hind  shoes 
to  weigh,  say,  from  4  to  5  ounces  more — because  the  greater 
weight  on  the  hind  feet  will  cause  him  to  use  his  hocks  and 
muscles  more  in  picking  up  his  feet,  and  this  will  naturally  tend 
to  slow  the  action  behind  and  thus  allow  time  sufficient  for  the 
front  feet  to  get  out  of  the  way. 

If  the  action  is  naturally  well-balanced,  the  shoes  should, 
of  course,  be  of  the  same  weight  all  round. 

Balancing  the  Action. — It  is  sometimes  a  matter  of  great 
difliculty  to  balance  and  square  the  action  of  horses,  especially 
trotters.     The  requirements  are  so  many  and  varied  that  various 


i 


SHOEING    YOUNG    HORSES.  Ill 

expedients    must   be   resorted   to    in   securing   the    benefits  of 
shoeing. 

Some  horses  are  long,  low  striders,  and  others  high,  short 
steppers.  Some  require  heavy  and  some  light  shoes,  and  every 
style  of  open,  bar,  flat,  concave,  rolling,  and  weighted  shoes, 
with  dift'erent  lengths  of  toes  and  heels,  are  necessary,  amongst 
the  rest,  for  times  and  occasions,,  to  regulate  and  balance  the 
action  of  difi'erent  horses  ;  and  much  of  the  success  that  should 
attend  the  acquirement  of  a  pure  gait,  or  the  correction  of  a 
faulty  one,  depends  upon  the  discretion  exercised  in  the  selection 
of  the  riffht  kind  of  shoe. 

When  the  action  of  a  horse  is  short,  high,  and  quick,  or 
"  choppy,"  in  front,  it  will  generally  be  found  that  the  toe  of 
the  foot  is  too  short  and  the  heels  too  high,  or  that  the  pasterns 
and  shoulders  are  upright.  This  can  be  remedied  in  effect  by 
lowering  the  heels  as  much  as  possible,  which  will  bring  the 
foot  more  to  the  ground.  In  case  the  front  part  of  the  hoof  has 
been  rasped  or  pared  too  short,  the  shoe  should  be  extended  over 
and  beyond  the  toe,  and  thus  acquire  a  proper  extent  of  ground 
surface.  The  weight  of  the  shoe  must  be  determined  by  the 
driver  or  owner  as  to  what  is  best  adapted  for  the  horse  to 
carry  with  ease  and  safety. 

When  the  action  in  front  is  long  and  low  and  stifi:-kneed, 
put  the  foot  in  shape  as  for  the  perfect  foot  (Fig.  23),  and  use 
the  scoop-toe  rolling-motion  shoe  shown  in  Figs.  121  and  134, 
which  will  shorten  the  stride  by  lessening  the  extent  of  the 
ground  tread,  and  at  the  same  time  efi'ect  an  increase  of  knee 
action.  A  still  more  efficient  aid  in  these  respects  will  be  found 
in  the  use  of  the  plain  rolling-motion  shoe  (Fig.125),  for  in  pro- 
portion to  the  increase  of  the  roll  in  the  shoe,  so  will  be  the 
increase  of  the  action  in  the  knee.  The  roll  heightens  and 
hastens  the  action,  imparting,  as  it  were,  a  "  down-hill "  impulse 
to  the  ste 

A  common  cause  of  bad  action  in  speed  horses  is  tenderness 


112  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEIXG. 

or  soreness  in  the  feet,  resulting  from  improper  shoeing.  To 
shape  and  properly  adjust  a  shoe  to  meet  the  varying  require- 
ments of  a  horse's  foot  is  an  art  that  is  not  as  thoroughly  under- 
stood as  it  should  be  (as  I  have  elsewhere  shown),  and  there  are 
still  many  primitive  methods  associated  with  the  professional 
practice.  Ko  man  is  fit  to  shoe  a  horse  unless  he  can  balance 
and  level  a  foot  scientifically  so  as  to  preserve  or  restore  the 
natural  bearings  of  the  joints  and  hoof,  which  is,  after  all,  the 
main  thing  necessary,  and  the  quantity  of  skill  displayed  in  this 
respect  constitutes  the  real  difierence  between  the  skilled  and 
unskilled  workman.  An  ill-fitting  shoe  is  as  inconvenient  and 
painful  to  a  horse  as  a  tight  boot  is  to  his  owner,  and  the  com- 
parison more  than  justifies  itself  when  it  is  borne  in  mind  that 
the  horse's  shoe  becomes  a  fixture  not  to  be  discarded  at  will, 
whence  follow  impaired  action,  distorted  hoofs,  corn  bruises, 
inflammations,  etc.  A  foot  thus  shod  may  be  tortured  by  the 
cramping  of  nails  around  the  toe  or  be  "  underpunched"  and 
driven  upon  the  sensitive  parts  ;  or  by  scooping  out  the  sole  and 
then  shoeing  with  too  light,  thin  plates,  causing  what  is  known 
as  "foot  scald."  Other  penalties  are  inflicted  by  burning,  caus- 
ing the  hoof  to  become  hard  and  dry;  and  in  destroying  the 
right  angle  of  the  foot  by  having  high  heels  and  short  toes,  or 
vice  versa.  A  horse  with  a  low  gliding  action  behind  can  only 
move  efiiciently  with  light-weight  shoes,  as  the  labor  in  such 
cases  devolves  mostly  on  the  muscles  of  the  thigh — the  hock  not 
opening  wide,  and  much  weight  on  the  foot  soon  becomes  fa- 
tiguing. The  shoes  for  the  hind  feet  should  therefore  be  light 
as  can  be  safely  worn,  and  be  well  concaved  on  the  ground 
surface,  without  heel-calks,  as  shown  by  Fig.  149. 

The  Useful  Gait. — It  only  remains  to  be  added  in  this 
connection,  that  it  will  pay  horsemen  to  cultivate  that  most  use- 
ful gait  for  any  horse — however  restricted  it  may  appear — 
namely,  a  good  walk.     The   steady,  good,  four-miles-an-hour 


SHOEING    YOUNG    HORSES.  113 

walk  is  the  gait  that  "gets  there"  with  the  most  regularity  and 
with  the  least  amount  of  wear  and  tear  of  team  and  vehicle 
every  time.  The  team  that  walks  steadily  and  well,  without 
being  required  to  mar  the  walk  by  trotting  over  part  of  the 
road,  generally  reaches  its  destination  before  the  one  that  divides 
the  distance  into  periods  of  brisk  trots  and  very  slow  walks. 
To  improve  the  walk  of  a  team,  it  should  be  taught  to  work 
persistently  at  that  pace,  without  alternating  the  performance 
by  any  other  style  of  going,  for  the  time  being,  for  that  would 
spoil  the  salutary  efiects  of  the  lesson. 


114  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


CHAPTER  YI. 
SPECIAL   AND   GENERAL   SHOEING. 

DEALING  WITH  DIFFERENT  KINDS  OF  FEET. 

That  there  is  a  wide  margin  of  difference  in  respect  to  the 
conformation  and  proportions  which  characterize  the  feet  of 
different  kinds  of  horses,  or  horses  reserved  for  particular  uses, 
is  too  constant  and  well  established  a  fact  to  require  formal  as- 
sertion here,  and  that  it  is.  the  practical  difficulties  of  adjusting 
suitable  shoes  to  meet  these  varied  requirements  that  most  of 
the  failures  of  farriers  is  due,  can  not  for  a  moment  be  denied. 
There  is  always  a  choice  of  modes  and  instrumentalities  avail- 
able to  the  farrier,  a  question  of  preference  as  to  this  or  that 
alternative  in  shoeing,  and  it  often  involves  a  considerable  amount 
of  practical  ingenuity  and  good  judgment  to  decide  on  a  proced- 
ure that  will  insure  good  final  results. 

This,  indeed,  constitutes  the  most  difficult  part  of  the  art 
of  shoeing,  for  it  is  plainly  evident  that  all  feet,  differing  as  they 
do  in  conditions  and  uses,  can  not  be  alike  operated  upon,  nor 
can  one  kind  of  shoe  be  supposed  to  answer  the  purposes  of  all. 
The  safety,  speed  and  endurance  of  a  horse  greatly  depend 
upon  the  adaptation  of  his  shoeing  to  the  nature  ef  the  work  he 
has  to  perform,  and  at  all  times  a  careful  application  of  it  to  the 
state  of  his  foot. 

In  general  terms  this  represents  a  comparison  applicable  to 
the  science  of  horseshoeing  in  its  best  state,  that,  in  its  degree, 
it  demands  as  much  expertness,  knowledge,  and  attention  to 


SPECIAL    AND    GENERAJi    SHOEING.  115 

details,  as  is  required  in  the  construction  of  a  delicate  musical 
instrument  that  it  may  keep  in  tune  and  harmonious  action. 

The  mode  of  dealing  with  each  foot,  therefore,  should  be 
influenced  both  by  its  kind  of  condition  and  the  kind  of  service 
for  which  the  horse  is  designed.  A  want  of  attention  in  this 
respect  or  a  disregard  of  the  consequences  entailed  by  such  neg- 
lect, is  largely  responsible  for  the  disasters  that  wait  on  misap- 
plied shoeing;  not  only  marring  the  utility  of  shoeing  to  all 
intents  and  purposes,  but  rendering  it  a  menace  instead  of  a  pro- 
tection. 

Without  being  an  alarmist,  and  not  presuming  to  claim  a 
monopoly  of  advantages  in  criticizing  the  objectionable  features 
most  noticeable  in  the  common  run  of  horseshoers'  work,  I 
again  refer  to  my  observations  in  Chapter  lY  on  the  importance 
of  settling  and  balancing  the  foot  on  the  normal  center  of 
equilibrium,  which  it  must  be  understood  inclines,  and  is  fixed 
or  altered  according  to  the  natural  or  unnatural  growth  of  the 
hoof;  then,  in  the  right  adaptation  of  the  shoe  to  maintain  and 
carry  out  this  balance.  Reiterating  these  primary  facts,  all 
the  more  from  the  frequency  of  the  instances  where  they  are 
wholly  disregarded  (there  being  one  good  intelligent  shoer,  it  is 
safe  to  say,  where  there  are  ten  others  ruining  horses  right 
along),  and  to  the  further  fact  that  they  are  at  the  very  begin- 
ning of  all  inquiries  relating  to  the  proper  shoeing  of  horses  of 
any  and  every  kind,  as  well  as  to  the  cause  and  treatment  of  many 
foot  ailments.  Hereafter  my  references  and  comparisons  in 
dealing  with  the  other  portions  of  my  subject  may  be  considered 
as  constantly  applying  to,  or  as  being  based  on,  the  general  mat- 
ters of  shoeing  advanced  in  the  chapter  just  mentioned. 

The  Running  or  Galloping  Horse. — The  running  horse 
occupies  a  legitimate  position  at  the  head  of  field  racing.  As- 
pirants for  distinction  in  this  class  must  have  physical  merit  to 
make  prominent  those  qualities  which  alone  prove  most  accept- 


116 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.   30. 


RACING     PLATE     FOB    RUNNING     OR 
GALLOPING    HORSES. 


able  on  the  track — vital- 
ity,  strength,   speed,  and 
endurance.     The  running 
horse     concentrates     the 
full   power   of    a    perfect 
animal    organism    in    his 
terrific    bursts    of    speed, 
and  is   rewarded    accord- 
ing to  his  deserts.     Con- 
sidering   the   immense 
length    of    stride,    or  the 
distance     covered     with 
each    forward   movement 
or    jump    in   the    act    ot 
galloping,    when    each    front    and    hind    pair    of    bipeds    are 
extended  to  their  utmost  in   rapid  succession   to  receive,  sus- 
tain and  transfer  the  weight  of  the  body,  as  well  as  the  burden 
of  the  rider,  it  will  be  readily  appreciated  that  the  result  of 
these  efforts  (sometimes  prolonged  in  hard  contests)  must  prove 
a  severe  test  of  the  structural  makeup  of  any  horse,  and  that  in 
the    eliminating   process    where    exceptional    speed  marks    the 
*'  survival  of  the  fittest,"  a  large  proportion  of  all  running  and 
racing  horses  soon  cease  to  be  available  for  speed  or  any  other 
profitable  purpose.     From  the  violence  of  their  exertions  they 
are  liable  to  sprains  of  tendons  and  ligaments,  and  a  sprained 
leg  must  always  remain  a  weak  leg. 

The  great  sprain  producing  or  "  breaking  down  ''  pace  is 
the  gallop,  but  (as  this  injury  more  nearly  concerns  the  limbs 
above  the  fetlock)  as  a  rule,  running  horses  have  much  better 
feet  than  trotters.  This  is  due  to  the  softer  tracks  over  which 
they  course,  and  to  the  consistent  use  of  light  thin  shoes, 
60  that  the  frog  impinges  the  ground  with  such  a  firm  tread 
as   to    overcome    any  interposition    to    the   expansive    capacity 


SPECIAL    AND    GENERAL    SHOEING.  117 

of  the  foot  while  in  action,  we  must,  for  the  most  part,  ascribe 
that  better  condition  observable  in  the  feet  of  running  horses. 

To  preserve  them  in  this  way,  despite  their  hard  manner 
of  going,  it  necessarily  requires  judicious  care  and  the  barring 
out  of  most  of  the  objectionable  features  to  be  found  in  shoe- 
ing. When  properly  applied  according  to  their  natural  require- 
ments, the  training  shoes  of  running  horses  are  quite  light,  placed 
•on  with  only  a  few  small  nails,  not  to  unnecessarily  crowd,  split, 
or  weaken  the  wall;  then,  before  racing  these  training  shoes 
are  removed,  the  feet  accurately  leveled  and  balanced  like  the 
form  in  Fig,  23,  and  racing  plates  substituted.  The  latter  are 
a  light,  narrow  rim,  about  ^  in.  thick  x  f  in.  wide,  weighing, 
say,  1|  to  2h  ounces,  though  this  must  be  proportioned  to  suit 
the  conditions  of  going,  gait,  balance,  etc.  These  plates  should 
be  well  concaved  on  the  ground  surface,  with  a  fine  edge  all 
round,  to  catch  the  first  impulse  of  the  spring  at  the  toe  without 
slipping,  and  be  adjusted  to  the  precise  line  of  the  hoof,  just 
covering  the  wall-bearing  to  insure  perfect  action  without  com- 
pressing or  touching  any  other  part.  The  nails  should  have 
thin,  narrow  blades  and  sharp  points  and  be  driven  around  the 
sides  and  heels  even  to  the  extreme  ends  of  the  branches  of  the 
shoe,  as  shown  in  Fig.  30  ;  to  point  out  through  the  thick  lower 
margin  of  the  wall,  and  thus  secure  a  solid,  permanent  hold,  as 
shown  in  Fig,  29. 

In  this  way,  the  task  (worthy  of  the  most  intelligent  farrier) 
to  combine  the  right  and  useful  utilities  of  the  work  will  be  in- 
sured, to  the  desirable  end  that  "  violence  during  locomotion," 
which  constitutes  the  serious  and  irreparable  accident  termed 
"  breaking  down,"  will,  at  least,  be  restrained  in  so  far  as  shoe- 
ing can  effect  it. 

The  Trotting  Horse, — The  trotting  horse  must  be  consid- 
ered in  the  light  of  a  pattern  road  horse — generally  useful  in 
form,  gait  and  docility,  to  meet  any  demand — combining  the 


118 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


ambition  of  a  gentleman's  driver  and  the  reliability  of  a  lady's? 
phaeton  horse.  The  influence  of  the  trotting-bred  animal  is 
favorably  seen  in  its  effects  upon  the  general  character  of  our 
roadster  stock,  which  it  has  greatly  improved  for  all  practical 
purposes  and  enhanced  in  all  desirable  respects.  In  other  lines 
his  public  performances  on  the  turf  have  given  the  trotting; 
horse  a  prominence  unequaled  as  his  excellence,  and  he  is  every- 
where fancied  as  the  favorite  among  speed  horses.  In  this  re- 
spect the  distinctive  trotter  is  an  example  of  modern  evolution ; 
as  will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  the  following  table,  which  gives 
a  list  of  the  standard,  record-taking  performers,  in  and  subse- 
quent to  the  year  1806,  from  which  date  the  development  of  the 
trotting  classes  are  credited. 


CHAMPIONS  OF  THE  FAST-CLASS  REGULATION  MILE-TRACKS. 


1806 
1810 
1829 
1834 
1S39 
1844 
1844 
1849 
1849 
1849 
1855 
1859 
1867 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1871 
1872 


Name. 


Yankee 

Boston  Horse 

Topsfallant,  3  miles 

Edwin  Forrest  

Drover  

Lady  Suffolk 

Unknown.. 

Pelham,  converted  pacer  .. 

Highland  Maid     

Flora  Temple 

Pocahontas,  pacing  to  wagon 

Flora  Temple 

Dexter.      ."  

Dexter 

Lady  Thomas  

American  Girl,  31  oz.  shoes.. 

Goldsmith  Maid 

Lucy 


a 

M 

o 

■1 

M 

U 

tf 

>H 

2  59 

1874 

2,481^ 

1875 

8  11 

1876 

2  31 

1878 

2  28 

1878 

2  26 

1879 

2.23 

1880 

2  28 

1880 

2.27 

18S1 

2  241^ 

1H81 

2  171^ 

1884 

2  19% 

1884 

2  19 

1885 

2  17;^ 

1889 

2.I8I4 

1891 

2  19>^ 

1892 

2  17 

1894 

2I814 

1895 

Name. 


same  date 


Goldsmith  Maid 

Lula 

Smuggler 

Rarus  

Hopeful 

St.  Julien      .     . 
St.  Julien  { 
Maude  S.  i 

Maud  S 

Maud  S 

Jay  Eve  See 

Maud  S  .     

Maud  S 

Guy 

Sunol 

Nancy  Hanks..   . . 
Alix  (against  time 


14 
15  »i 
15  !4 
13  Ji 
14?i 
12% 
11?£ 
11%: 

lovx 

.10 
095i. 

0S% 

.1(1% 

08% 

04 

03% 


(It  is  freely  predicted  that  a  speed  of  two  minutes  is  not 
only  possible,  but  probable,  in  the  immediate  future.) 

This  gradual  development  of  the  trotting  horse  to  his  pres- 
ent state  of  excellence,  and  the  still  greater  excellence  to  which 
farther  development  in  the  future  will  certainly  elevate  him,  can 
not  fail  to  improve  all  kinds  of  light  harness  horses  in  general 
use.  The  trotter  will  train  on  and  breed  on.  People  who  are 
not  horsemen,  in  the  strict  acceptance  of  the  word,  but  who, 


i 


SPECIAL    AND    GENERAL    SHOEING.  119 

nevertheless,  enjoy  a  ride  behind  a  good  horse,  will  become  more 
and  more  impressed  with  the  fact  that  it  costs  no  more  to  keep 
a  good  horse  than  a  poor  one,  and  that  in  horses,  as  in  every- 
thing else,  the  best  is  the  cheapest.  The  demand  for  good 
horses  will  therefore  increase,  and  as  the  general  horsekeeping 
public  become  more  and  more  learned  in  the  knowledge  of  what 
n  good  horse  really  is,  they  will  take  nothing  else. 

In  the  evolution  of  the  trotting  horse  the  most  vital  and 
imperative  points  commanding  the  attention  of  horsemen  and 
farriers  have  been  the  acquirement  of  constantly  improved 
methods  and  skill  applying  to  the  intelligent  supervision  of  his 
feet  and  legs,  the  most  important  parts  of  the  animals  structure, 
upon  the  soundness  of  which  its  capacity  for  speed  and  power 
of  endurance  greatly  depend.  I  have  already  referred  (in  the 
chapter  on  "  Shoeing  Young  Horses  ")  to  the  many  perplexities 
to  be  encountered  in  the  progress  of  shoeing  trotting  horses, 
owing  to  the  variety  and  velocity  of  movement,  and  because 
each  single  front  leg  is  required  to  alternate  at  certain  successive 
moments  in  bearing  all  of  the  weight  and  impetus  of  moving, 
instead  of  sharing  it  with  its  counterpart,  as  in  the  act  of  stand- 
ing or  running,  in  all  of  w^hich  there  is  always  an  increase  of  the 
difficulties  of  shoeing. 

The  w^eight  and  style  of  shoe,  are,  therefore,  to  be  regarded 
with  the  utmost  nicety  of  judgment,  and  such  matters  must  be 
thoroughly  understood  in  adapting  the  shoe  to  its  proper  intent. 
It  is  necessary  for  the  shoe  to  be  well  adjusted  to  a  close,  strong 
bearing  upon  the  wall,  and  that  it  be  sufficiently  wnde  to  sustain 
the  usage  required  without  bending  or  twisting,  nor  yet  to  touch 
or  bear  against  the  sole.  The  shoe  should  therefor  be  beveled  off 
inside  of  the  w^all-bearing  and  lit  the  hoof  to  the  best  advantage 
uniformly  around  all  parts,  with  a  firm  seat  toward  the  heels, 
and  in  all  other  respects  let  it  be  made  and  fitted  like  the  shoe 
for  the  perfect  foot.  Figs.  27  and  28.  By  having  the  ends  of 
shoes  beveled  off  on  the  same  angle  as  the  heels  of  the  hoof, 


120  SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 

the  force  of  landing  will  pass  through  the  ball  of  the  foot  on 
the  right  axis  of  the  leg,  without  injury  to  the  back  tendons. 
Three  nails  on  each  side  of  shoe  opposite  each  other  will  allow 
the  foot  to  expand  equally  on  both  quarters  and  thus  avoid  the 
danger  of  foot  and  les:  soreness.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind 
that  pressure  from  the  shoe  must  be  kept  off  around  the  front 
part  of  the  foot  to  prevent  toe  soreness,  as  the  hoof  grows  more 
at  the  toe  than  at  the  quarters. 

Some  horses  may  require  scoop-toe  shoes,  or  shoes  concaved 
on  the  ground  surface,  others,  small  heel  calks  ;  but  these  points, 
together  with  w^eight  of  shoes,  etc.,  must  be  adjusted  to  suit  the 
stride  and  gait  of  the  horse.  When  starting  trotting  horses  in 
their  spring  work  after  a  long  winter's  rest,  it  is  advisable  in 
some  cases  to  have  their  front  shoes  weigh  four  or  five  ounces 
more  than  the  shoes  worn  in  the  fall  races,  as  these  heavier  shoes 
will  assist  them  in  getting  up  more  quickly  to  their  stride.  Reset 
the  shoes  every  ten  or  fifteen  days,  so  that  the  foot  may  be  kept 
level  and  balanced,  and  at  all  times  fit  the  shoes  snug  around 
the  hoof  to  avoid  striking  them  off  by  an  overreach. 

Another  point  worthy  of  note  in  this  connection  is,  that  by 
watching  the  action  of  a  trotting  horse  and  attentively  listening 
to  the  sound  of  each  footfall,  the  rhythm  of  their  movement  may 
be  observed  and  any  irregularity  detected.  Thus,  if  the  action 
is  balanced  the  succession  of  steps  will  fall  in  regular  1-2-3-4 
time,  but  if  any  irregular  interval  occurs — either  slower  or  faster 
— there  is  a  difference  in  the  length  of  stride.  Where  there  is 
a  long  interval,  the  stride  of  the  slow-moving  limb  is  longer 
than  its  fellows,  and  where  there  is  a  short  interval,  the  stride 
of  the  quick-moving  limb  is  shorter  than  the  others.  These 
irregularities  may  be  due  to  some  inequality  of  the  foot — a  high 
heel  or  short  toe  will  cause  an  unbalanced  gait  or  an  unequal 
stride.  A  foot  shorter  on  the  ground  surface — that  is,  with 
short  toes — is  shorter  in  stride  and  quicker  in  its  fall  than  the 
others.     If  the  front  feet  are  upon  the  same  angle,  same  height- 


SPECIAL    AXD    GENERAL    SHOEIXG.  121 

of  wall  from  coronet  to  base,  same  length  of  ground  tread  from 
heel  to  toe,  and  carry  the  same  weight  and  style  of  shoes,  their 
action  and  stride  should  be  the  same,  and  this  rule  applies  also 
to  the  hind  feet. 

To  supply  any  insufficiency  in  ground  tread  of  hoof,  the 
shoe  should  be  made  to  project  over  the  toe  enough  to  line  up 
with  the  correct  angle  of  hoof  and  pastern,  all  as  explained  and 
shown  in  Chap.  IV,  with  Figs.  16  to  29. 

The  Pacing  Horse. — Having  shown  in  the  preceding  chap- 
ter that  the  necessity  for  action  of  a  certain  kind  has  in  some 
cases  been  the  cause  of  breed  evolution,  and  in  others  breed  evo- 
lution has  necessitated  the  development  of  action  of  an  entirely 
different  character,  I  come  now  to  speak  of  one  of  these  artificial 
gaits  as  displayed  by  the  pacing-bred  animal.  The  pacing  horse 
shows  his  ability  to  successfully  compete  with  other  distinctive 
"  speed  horses  "  in  their  own  sphere,  but  he  will  not  compare 
side  by  side  in  popular  favor  with  the  trotter  as  a  road  horse. 
The  action  is  a  succession  of  changes  from  one  side  biped  to  the 
other,  resulting  in  the  acti*ve  swaying  and  balancing  of  the  body 
with  a  sidelong  shifting  movement,  developing  in  the  best 
types,  great  reach  of  stride  at  speed  in  an  easy  frictionless  man- 
ner, with  much  force  and  power  of  action. 

For  horses  of  this  kind  use  as  light  and  thin  shoes  as  wilt 
suffice  for  the  protection  of  the  hoofs  from  concussion  in  swift 
movements,  but  no  more.  They  should  be  concaved  on  the 
ground  surface  to  make  landing  secure  without  spreading  or 
sliding,  and  for  the  same  purpose  the  hind  shoes  may  have  low- 
heel  calks.  Figs.  140  or  149.  In  all  other  points  observe  the 
order  of  procedure  in  leveling  the  foot,  adjusting  and  nailing  the 
shoes,  according  to  conditions  noted  in  connection  with  perfect 
foot,  Chap.  IV.,  Figs.  23  and  27. 

The  Racking  Horse. — Another  acquired  gait  is  called  the 


122 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  31.  English  seated  shoe  for 
racking  or  saddle  horses  and  for 
general  driving  purposes  on  horses 
having  good  stong  arched  feet. 


rack,  which  is  especially 
adapted  for  saddle  horses, 
being  a  rapid,  attractive 
style,  graceful  and  pleasant 
for  a  rider — though,  as  horse- 
nien  know — exactino:  on  the 
stamina  of  a  horse.  The 
gait  is  performed  by  the  ac- 
tion of  each  lateral  biped  in 
rotation.  The  revolution  of 
the  front  feet  exhibit  a  high 
knee  action,  full  of  mettle, 
with  a  hard,  almost  perpen- 
dicular descent;  in  conse- 
quence of  which  there  is  an 
aptitude  in  horses  of  this 
class  to  overreach  and  thus  strike  off  the  front  shoes  by  the  for- 
ward thrust  of  the  hind  feet. 

The  objects  to  be  looked  to  in  shoeing  the  racking  horse 
are  to  provide  a  secure  footing  and  avoid  unnecessary  concussion 
or  the  mischance  of  picking  up  stones.  The  shoes  for  the  front 
feet  should  therefore  be  of  a  light  concaved  pattern,  such  as  the 
English  seated  shoe  shown  in  Fig.  31,  or  in  case  of  overreach  use 
the  scoop-toe  rolling  motion  shoe.  Fig.  121,  as  this  will  quicken 
the  action  of  the  front  limbs;  and  for  still  quicker  movement 
over  the  toe,  use  a  plain  roller-motion  shoe,  such  as  Fig.  125. 
For  the  hind  feet  the  addition  of  heel  calks  to  shoes,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  140,  will  give  a  more  effective  footing  by  sinking  deeper 
into  the  ground.  In  all  cases,  however,  the  feet  should  be  kept 
strong  in  all  parts  and  the  shoes  fitted  accurately  to  a  firm  po- 
sition on  the  wall,  as  for  the  perfect  foot.  Fig.  28. 


The  General  Purpose  Horse. — This  class  of  horses  may 
be  held  to  include  numerous  miscellaneous  representatives  of  all 


SPECIAL    AND    GENERAL    SHOEING.  123 

classes  in  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  life :  from  the  sleek,  well- 
groomed,  and  handsomely  appointed,  light-stepping  roadster  of 
the  successful  professional  or  business  man,  to  the  "  general 
utility"  animals  of  the  coach,  omnibus,  and  livery  lines,  as  well 
as  the  workaday  horses  of  the  common  carriers  and  the  sedate 
looking,  steady  going,  well  known  family  carriage  horse. 

Thus  classified,  or  grouped,  there  is  enough  diversity  in 
size,  style,  and  general  character  of  performance  to  apparently 
tax  the  ingenuity  of  the  shoeing  smith;  yet  there  is  nothing 
formidable  in  this  array  after  all,  and  all  may  be  treated  with 
great  ease  and  simplicity,  though  with  that  regard  and  atten- 
tion which  each  may  seem  to  demand.  The  same  process  of 
shoeing  as  appertains  to  my  formula  for  the  perfect  foot,  and 
the  same  shoe  as  shown  in  that  connection  (Fig.  27)  applies 
here,  and  may  be  followed  with  general  success  throughout,  as 
this  shoe  will  prove  most  serviceable  for  all  horses  going  at  a 
"jog  trot,"  especially  for  summer  wear  on  the  front  feet.  I 
would  not  recommend  the  promiscuous  use  of  calks  on  shoes, 
for  where  such  cramps  seem  of  use  to  the  support  of  a  horse  by 
the  impression  they  make  in  the  surface,  it  will  be  seen  from  my 
method  of  shoeing  race  horses,  where  the  frog  comes  to  the 
ground,  notwithstanding  the  course  they  run  over  is  often  slip- 
pery and  they  are  up  to  their  speed,  yet  they  seldom  fall,  and 
this  style  of  even,  plain  shoeing,  would  seem  to  be  well  calcu- 
lated to  answer  for  the  same  purposes  generally.  Still,  when  toe 
and  heel  calks  are  required,  it  is  well  to  state  that  the  toe  calks 
should  be  of  good  length,  set  slightly  back  from  the  front  rim 
of  the  shoe,  as  this  will  assist  the  easy  going  over  at  that  point 
without  deviation  or  hindrance  to  the  action. 

The  Draft  Horse. — Dropping  from  the  higher  types  to 
the  draft  horses  we  still  find  that  conditions  of  environment 
have  given  to  the  different  breeds  of  this  class  their  own  char- 
acteristic ways  of  going.     The  true  gait  of  the  draft  horse  is 


124  SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 

the  walk,  though  the  candidate  for  the  best  honors  must  show 
that  he  can  go  faster  than  a  walk  when  necessary,  but  still  main- 
tain his  legs  in  such  a  position  as  to  enable  him  to  exert  the 
maximum  of  his  strength  as  occasion  may  require.  A  typical 
instance  may  be  selected  from  the  Clydesdale  family,  whose 
long  continued  use  in  the  heavy  soil  of  Scotland  has  caused  him 
to  lift  his  feet  squarely  up,  flex  his  ankle  joints  deeply,  turning 
the  sole  of  his  feet  squarely  up,  and  then,  with  a  long  swinging 
stride,  implant  them  on  the  earth  again,  indicative  of  his  perfect 
ability  to  carry  or  draw  the  burden  to  be  thrown  upon  him.  The 
hocks  of  draft  horses  should  not  be  carried  too  wide  apart,  for 
that  detracts  from  their  power  (resulting  from  muscular  fatigue) 
in  the  exertions  consequent  on  heavy  hauling.  That  the  feet 
of  such  horses  should  be  strong  and  healthy,  with  firm  hardness 
of  hoofs,  will  be  readily  inferred  from  a  consideration  of  their 
important,  special  uses  as  supports,  from  whence  proceeds,  as 
the  base  of  action,  whatever  there  is  of  bodily  strength  or  physi- 
cal power  to  work  or  strive  *"  with  might  and  main"  within  the 
sphere  assigned  them.  Yet  how  frequently  do  we  see  horses  of 
this  class  with  weak,  tender  feet,  marked  by  mishaps  from  care- 
less exposure  to  irregular,  hard,  loose  bodies  upon  which  their 
heavy  tread  may  chance  to  fall,  or  lame  from  the  lodgment  of 
flints  and  pebbles  between  the  sole  and  shoe,  to  which  the  cus- 
tomary method  of  shoeing  greatly  contributes  by  paring  down 
the  sole  and  frog,  and  weakening  the  heel  by  opening  up  the 
space  between  the  angles  of  the  bar  and  wall,  and  then  setting 
the  toe  and  heels  too  high  from  the  ground,  otherwise  removing 
them  too  great  a  distance  from  the  point  of  support,  which  tends 
all  the  more  to  an  excess  of  pressure  upon  the  coffin-joint,  as 
well  as  to  the  fatigue  of  the  nerves  and  tendon  upon  which  it 
rests,  by  the  distention  they  undergo  at  every  step  the  horse 
takes.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  teamsters,  traffic-men  or 
farmers  give  their  horses'  feet  the  particular  attention  given  to 
the  hiffher  class  of  racing  and  pleasure  horses,  but  they  can  most 


SPECIAL    AND    GENERAL    SHOEING.  125 

assuredly  give  them  common-sense  care,  and  this  will  often  spare 
unnecessary  punishment  to,  or  save  the  life  of,  a  useful  and  val- 
uable animal. 

"  Experience  keeps  a  dear  school,"  but  a  wise  man  will 
learn  to  profit  by  the  mistakes  of  others,  and  this  particular  ad- 
vantage everyone  may  reap  from  the  foregoing  references  to  the 
present  subject  of  inquiry,  namely,  to  keep  your  horses'  feet 
strong  as  nature  made  them,  level  and  balance  them  as  I  have 
sufiiciently  pointed  out  and  amply  explained  under  the  head  of 
"  Practical  Horseshoing."  Pare  away  as  little  of  the  sole,  frog, 
and  bars,  as  possible,  to  accomplish  this  end  in  the  proper  way, 
then  adjust  as  plain  and  light  a  shoe  as  accurately  to  the  hoof 
as  may  be  done,  and,  lastly,  fasten  it  on  with  no  larger  nor  more 
nails  than  are  judged  sufiicient  to  make  it  secure  in  position  for 
a  reasonable  length  of  time ;  and  I  will  guarantee  on  the  strength 
of  long  years  of  experience  and  close  observation,  that  the  fruit- 
ful source  from  which  arise  the  many  dangerous  compressions, 
inflammations,  etc.,  already  mentioned,  will  be  obviated,  and 
you  will  have  learned,  without  the  aid  of  other  tutor,  the  great 
scientific  lesson  of  rational  horseshoeins^. 

But  though  this  method  may  not  be  so  generally  adopted 
by  all  in  its  utmost  extent,  for  the  reasons  previously  announced,, 
that  from  the  difterent  formation  of  horses'  hoofs,  which  in  some 
will  always  demand  a  particular  method  of  shoeing,  yet  it  un- 
doubtedly applies  to  the  majority  of  horses  generally  met  with^ 
and  the  exceptions  remain  to  be  further  noted. 

The  shoes  for  draft  horses  should  be  only  moderately  heavy,, 
not  too  thick,  and  as  narrow  in  their  covering  as  the  case  admits, 
so  as  not  to  endanger  the  elasticity  of  the  sole. 

Figs.  32  and  33  indicate  the  patterns  usually  adopted  for 
front  and  hind  feet  respectively,  showing  four  nails  on  each 
side  exactly  opposite  one  another,  to  do  the  best  service  with  the 
least  injury.  Toe  and  heel  calks  are  in  general  vogue  for  shoes 
of  this  kind,  and  they  should  always  be  of  equal  height  and  low 


126 


SCIENTIFIC     HOKSESHOEING. 


Fig.  32.    front  foot  shoe  for  dkaft  horse. 


as  possible — the  lower  the 
better  for  the  ease  and 
safety  of  the  horse.  The 
expediency  of  calks  may 
sometimes  be  questioned 
especially  on  the  front 
feet,  howsoever  conveni- 
ent or  successful  they  may 
be  in  respect  to  the  hold 
they  secure,  for  they  ag- 
gravate the  inequalities  of 
bearing  and  deprive  the 
feet   of  liberty  of  accom- 

,   _  _  „  ,   „  -r .        n      .         modation,    and   work  in- 

A,  A,  B,  B,  Figs.  32  and  33,  Lines  showing 

the  equal  adjustment  of  shoe  to  the  normal  J""es   to  the   freedom  of 

center  of  foot  from  heel  to  toe  and  across  the  locomotory  apparatus 

quarters,  thus  placing  the  weight  upon  the  as  previously  mentioned. 

right  portions  of  the  foot  and  the  shoe  under  Resort    to    toe    cliD^ 

the  right  weight  bearers.  ,  ,  •        ^  i  •  ^ 

and  burning  them  into  the 

hoof  to  assist  in  the  retention  of  the  shoe,  is  often  productive 

of  injury  to  and  soreness  in  the  foot — as  I  shall  illustrate  further 

along — but    when    applied 

they    should     be     carefully 

turned  up  with  reference  to 

these  eflects,  and  also  in  line 

with  the  angle  of  the  hoof, 

using  a  knife  to   notch  the 

hoof  where  they  are  to  be 

buried. 

By  the  method  of  shoe- 
ing proposed  in  connection 
with  Fig.  27,  and  since  re- 
ferred to  according  to  the 
perfection  or  imperfection  of     Fig.  33.  hind  foot  shoe  for  draft  horse. 


SPECIAL    AND    GENERAL    SHOEING.  127 

the  hoofs  under  consideration,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  advan- 
tages arising  from  the  plain  and  simple  processes  recommended 
are,  that  the  free  action  of  the  extremities  in  going  with  ease  is 
preserved,  by  not  setting  on  any  more  iron  than  is  necessary ; 
and  that  in  not  removing  the  frog,  the  foot  rests  more  evenly 
from  toe  to  heel,  thus  multiplying  its  points  of  support  and 
giving  it  a  stronger  and  more  adherent  landing,  without  lessen- 
ing the  surface  of  ground  tread  nor  yet  increasing  its  friction 
or  fatis-uins:  the  stride. 

It  is  observable  that  a  horse  goes  easy  or  escapes  soon  being 
jaded  if  the  frog  receives  a  certain  amount  of  pressure,  as  it  is 
the  supporting  cushion  to  the  back  tendons,  also  defending  the 
sensitive  sole  against  many  inconvenient  bruises,  so  that  if  it  is 
kept  at  a  distance  from  the  ground  by  high  heels  or  by  paring 
it  away,  an  inordinate  distension  of  the  tendons  will  happen, 
causing  relaxations,  swellings  and  soreness,  which  are  occasioned 
more  by  paring  the  sole  and  frog  than  by  hard  driving  or  the 
distance  traveled.  Experience  has  shown  that  the  frog,  being 
of  a  soft,  flexible  substance,  by  its  natural  elasticity,  yields  to  the 
weight  of  the  horse  the  instant  his  foot  touches  the  ground,  and 
immediately  recovers  itself  again,  thus  giving  a  natural  expan- 
sion to  the  foot  with  every  step  taken.  When  contracted  feet 
have  to  be  expanded,  the  most  simple,  safe,  and  at  the  same 
time,  eftective  means  of  attaining  that  end  is  to  be  found  in  this 
action  of  the  frog.  An  overgrowth  of  hoof,  that  is,  high  heels 
and  long  toes,  displaces  the  normal  balance  of  the  foot  and  bear- 
ings of  the  joints,  and  causes  contraction,  weakness  and  a  curl 
under  at  one  or  both  sides  of  the  heels,  forcing  the  foot  bones 
upward — twisting  the  coronet — producing  malformation  of  the 
wall  and  an  atrophied  condition  of  the  internal  parts  from  de- 
fect of  nourishment  and  loss  of  strength  caused  by  pressure  of 
the  hoof;  all  of  which  defections  may  be  entirely  averted  if  the 
foot  is  properly  dressed  as  directed.  Or  before  becoming  perma- 
nently established,  they  may  be  overcome  if  the  foot  is  leveled 


128  SCIENTIFIC     HOKSESHOEING. 

and  balanced  so  as  to  restore  frog  pressure,  when  the  latter 
speedily  recovers  its  lost  characteristics  and,  again,  in  a  healthy 
condition,  gradually  and  naturally  accomplishes  one  of  the  very 
purposes  for  which  it  was  put  there. 

However,  there  may  be  cases  whereby  sudden  frog  pressure 
might  occasion  soreness  for  the  time  being,  when  it  is  still  hard 
and  dry,  or  when  a  horse  has  worn  shoes  for  a  long  time,  having 
thick,  high  heels ;  but  by  leveling  the  frog  on  a  line  with  the 
hoof  when  preparing  the  foot  to  its  proper  bearing  angle  as  di- 
rected this  disorder  is  soon  remedied. 

Proportions  of  the  Hoof. — It  is  apparent  from  the  anatomy 
of  the  foot  that  there  is  a  fixed  limit  beyond  which  the  growth  of 
the  hoof  should  not  proceed,  though  this  growth  is,  in  itself,  con- 
stant or  indefinite,  enlarging  the  base  of  the  hoof  as  it  proceeds. 
In  a  natural,  unshod  state,  attrition  or  wear  by  the  strain  of  the 
animal's  mere  weight  is  sufiicient  to  keep  the  hoof  in  such  size 
and  condition  that'the  balancing  of  the  body  is  properly  distrib- 
uted upon  the  digital  regions,  thus  obviating  the  impairment 
and  lameness  which  result  from  improper  shoeing,  as  well  as  the 
premature  breaking  down  of  horses  through  the  overgrowth 
and  unbalancing  of  their  hoofs. 

No  definite  rate  can  be  assigned  to  the  growth  of  the  hoof, 
as  some  develop  more  rapidly  than  others  and  in  different  parts, 
though  it  is  claimed  by  some  writers  that  it  requires  a  year  to 
renew  a  complete  wall.  The  toes  of  the  fore  feet  and  the  heels 
of  the  hind  feet  are  relatively  the  thickest  and  strongest  parts 
of  the  wall,  and  consequently  the  growths  there  are  more  marked 
than  at  the  quarters.  In  a  naturally  well-proportioned  horse  the 
ground  tread  of  the  fore  feet  is  longer  from  heel  to  toe  by  from 
f  in.  to  1  in.  than  across  the  quarters,  and  in  the  hind  feet  from 
11  in.  to  IJ  in. 

These  is  no  use  in  mincing  matters  for  the  more  one  knows 
about  shoeing,  the  more  he  knows  that  the  common  mode  of 


SPECIAL    AND    GENERAL    SHOEING.  129 

doing  the  work  is  so  frequently  destructive,  that  we  seldom  meet 
with  a  horse  whose  feet  have  not  in  some  degree  lost  their  natu- 
ral form,  and  this  deviation  from  their  original  shape  is  gener- 
ally proportioned  to  the  length  of  time  he  has  worn  shoes.  We 
may  learn  from  this  that  the  horse  in  a  state  of  bondage  is  a 
subject  fit  for  our  gravest  consideration  and  worthy  of  every  care 
and  attention  that  we  can  bestow.  Certainly  it  is  true  that  this 
applies  with  particular  directness  to  the  matter  of  shoeing,  where 
extra  precaution  should  be  adopted  and  intelligent  observation 
maintained,  in  order  to  guard  against  unnecessary  punishment, 
and  secure  the  best  results. 

Resetting  the  Shoes. — It  not  infrequently  happens  that 
horses  go  lame  from  an  overgrowth  of  hoof  by  allowing  the 
shoes  to  remain  on  too  long.  A  false  economy  about  shoeing 
bills  on  the  part  of  the  owner — by  persisting  in  the  continuance 
of  shoes  on  his  horse  after  they  have  been  outgrown  by  the 
lioof — is  wrong  and  unreasonable,  as  the  infliction  of  an  unnec- 
essary punishment.  Under  ordinary  circumstances  and  condi- 
tions of  hoof  growth  the  general  purpose  and  draft  horse  should 
have  his  feet  adjusted  and  shoes  reset  every  four  weeks,  and  on 
the  track  or  speed  horse,  every  two  weeks  to  preserve  the  nec- 
essary harmony  of  action  and  balance  in  the  foot. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  hind  feet  difler  from  the  front 
ones  in  shape,  operation,  and  mode  of  growth,  a  different  method 
of  shoeing  should  be  applied  to  them.  The  action  of  the  hind 
limbs,  as  previously  outlined,  carries  the  sweep  of  the  feet  nearer 
the  ground,  and  the  lighter  force  of  weight  in  these  parts  gives 
less  fixity  to  the  tread ;  hence,  it  follows,  that  calks  are  less  ob- 
jectionable on  the  hind  shoes,  as  they  tend  to  keep  a  horse  from 
sliding  on  a  descent,  and  secure  the  footing  by  a  deeper  clutch 
on  the  ground.  Calks,  however,  should  be  rather  flat  and  the 
shoes  generally  narrower  in  the  web  than  the  front  ones  (though 
stiff  enough  to  insure  substantial  form)  as  a  better  grip  is  thus  se- 


130  SCIENTIFIC    HOKSESHOEING. 

cured  in  the  act  of  springing,  and  no  loss  of  power  sustained  in 
the  extension  of  the  stride.  The  shoes  also  should  be  attached 
well  back  of  quarters  and  heels,  as  these  are  the  stronger  parts 
of  the  wall ;  but  in  all  cases,  both  front  and  back  shoes  should 
follow  the  exact  maro-inal  line  of  the  wall  from  toe  to  heels,  and 
if  any  deficiency  exists  in  the  length  or  width  of  hoof,  the  shoe 
is  the  thing  to  supply  it  with  ;  then  if  the  foot  is  leveled  and 
angled  aright,  the  shoe  is  to  maintain  the  level  by  being  of  uni- 
form thickness,  and  wherever  the  foot  requires  to  be  raised  or 
lowered  let  the  shoe  be  thickened  or  thinned  to  suit  the  emer- 
gencies of  the  case. 

Comments  on  the  Gait  of  Speed  Horses. — Some  inter- 
esting comparisons  are  suggested  by  the  records  of  the  phenom- 
enal "time  beaters  "  tabulated  on  page  118. 

Selecting,  for  an  example,  the  recorded  performance  of 
Nancy  Hanks  in  1892,  when  she  trotted  a  mile  on  a  regulation 
track  in  the  remarkably  quick  time  of  2  minutes  and  4  seconds, 
a  simple  calculation  will  serve  to  indicate  the  rate  of  speed  re- 
quired for  its  execution. 

The  line  measure  of  our  standard  mile  being  1,760  yards  or 
5,280  feet,  it  is  seen  that  in  dividing  the  distance  traveled  by 
the  time  expended  (reduced  to  seconds),  we  have  5,280  feet  by 
124  second8=42^  feet — or  the  rate  per  second  traveled  by 
Nancy  Hanks  in  the  foregoing  race. 

By  another  process  the  gait  of  horses  or  the  length  of  their 
stride  will  be  similarly  conveyed.  Assuming  the  stride  of  the 
horse  to  measure  16  feet,  it  will  require  330  such  strides  to  com- 
plete the  circuit  of  a  mile.  If  the  stride  is  a  rod  long  (or  16^^ 
feet),  there  will  be  320  to  the  mile ;  and  if  17  feet  in  length,  the 
number  of  strides  to  the  mile  will  be  310}^. 


LAMENESS   AND   DISEASES,    ETC     .,-— rrrr:    131 


CHAPTER   VII. 
LAMENESS  AND  DISEASES  OF  THE  FOOT 

PATHOLOGICAL  SHOEING. 

We  can  scarcely  overestimate  the  value  of  sound  legs  and 
feet  in  the  horse,  and  having  their  condition  and  efficiency  for 
a  subject,  it  also  naturally  follows  that  the  pathology  of  these 
organs  becomes  a  special  topic  for  inquiry,  for  their  situation  and 
uses  naturally  expose  them  to  a  greater  liability  to  injury  and 
disease  than  any  other  portion  of  the  animal  organization. 

The  advantages  to  be  derived  from  a  safe  and  scientific 
mode  of  shoeing  in  the  treatment  of  many  of  the  varied  troubles 
to  which  the  feet  and  legs  of  horses  are  constantly  subject,  are 
attracting  more  attention  among  horsemen  than  formerly,  even 
as  the  results  to  be  obtained  from  such  treatment  are  their  own 
best  proof  of  the  merits  of  the  agency  employed,  which  need 
but  to  be  seen  and  understood  to  be  indorsed  by  all.  It  is  the 
verdict  of  experience  that  a  rational,  approved  method  of  shoe- 
ing will  not  only  protect  the  horse's  foot  from  injurious  wear, 
and  thus  prevent  the  certain  damage  otherwise  ensuing,  but  act- 
ing on  the  doctrine  that  "  like  cures  like,"  it  will  transmute  the 
evils  that  men  do  into  good,  through  its  instrumentality  as  a 
corrective  for  the  manifold  crimes  committed  in  its  name.  This, 
in  truth,  is  the  legitimate  mission  of  farriery — "preventing,  cur- 
ing, or  mitigating  diseases."  Veterinary  surgery^indispensable 
though  it  be  as  a  healing  art — is  not  competent  to  deai  success- 
fully with  even  the  most  frequent  and  familiar  of  the  troubles 
that  beset  or  waylay  the  horse  at  almost  every  footstep,  though 
there  are  only  too  many  cases  in  which  horses  are  retired  to  the 
hospital,  or  unnecessarily  subjected  to  the  torture  of  "  fire  and 


132  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

blister,"  while  all  the  fault  lies  at  the  bottom  of  the  hoof,  in  an 
overgrowth  of  the  wall. 

It  is  of  such  diseases  as  have  their  origin  in,  or  otherwise  af- 
fect the  feet,  and  which  may  be  relieved  or  cured  by  rational 
methods  of  shoeing,  that  I  purpose  treating  under  this  head. 

The  different  character  of  the  diseases  as  manifested  by  dis- 
organized structures  or  deformities  of  the  foot  and  hoof,  are 
illustrated  by  typical  specimens  carefully  drawn  and  selected 
from  many  similar  examples  which  I  have  in  my  possession — the 
■collection  of  years  spent  in  such  research — which  form  a  com- 
plete exhibition  of  the  morbid  effects  resulting  from  neglect, 
abuse,  and  improper  management  of  the  horse's  foot. 

Many  foot  troubles,  when  allowed  to  exist  by  neglect,  or 
when  improperly  treated,  are  oftentimes  obstinate  and  difficult 
of  cure,  or  are  productive  of  permanent  injury  or  total  disabil- 
ity ;  others  yield  readily  to  a  seasonable  application  of  proper 
remedies,  and  may  thus  be  completely  overcome  and  the  foot 
restored  to  perfect  strength  and  vigor. 

Most  generally  the  nature  of  the  symptoms,  as  shown  on 
the  joints,  tendons  or  coronet,  are  directly  traceable  to  an  im- 
properly shod  or  unbalanced  foot,  and  the  eye  trained  to  recog- 
nize such  tokens  will  be  quick  to  note  that  there  are  no  existing 
.conditions  in  the  limb  that  will  make  it  possible  for  them  to  find 
birth  in  it,  and  as  ready  to  know  that  all  there  is  to  be  done  is 
to  have  a  competent  farrier  straighten  the  foot,  and  shoe  it  ac- 
cordingly, to  restore  the  natural  conditions  and  functions  of  the 
locomotory  apparatus. 

Causation  of  Diseases. — It  is  estimated  that  75  per  cent 
of  all  the  diseases  that  horse-flesh  is  heir  to,  are  due  to  the  so- 
called  "  necessary  evils "  of  shoeing,  and  it  is  found  that  most 
of  this  long  category  arises  from  a  disregard  of  the  primary  prin- 
ciples of  establishing  a  level  footing  for  the  horse  to  go  upon. 
Hence  I  find  myself  incessantly  repeating  again  and  again  that 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC.  133 

the  first  and  last  object  of  attention  — the  source  and  center  of 
success  in  farriery — is  to  bring  the  feet  to  a  perfectly  level  bear- 
ing, so  that  they  will  point  straight  and  true  in  line  with  the 
limbs,  and  the  action  of  locomotion  will  be  performed  with  easy 
continuous  regularity  like  the  movement  of  a  pendulum.  By 
keeping  this  principle  steadily  in  view,  I  feel  assured  that  I  have 
done  more  for  the  improvement  of  the  strength  and  perfection 
of  the  horse's  foot  than  could  have  been  done  by  learning  all 
the  mysteries  of  the  veterinary  school.  Without  it,  all  the  soak- 
ing tubs,  bandages,  liniments,  etc.,  are  so  much  time  and  money 
wasted. 

Though  the  first  condition  of  incipient  trouble  has  thus  been 
pointed  out  and  evidently  proved,  the  matter  does  not  end  here, 
for  an  uneven  and  unbalanced  hoof — high  heels  or  long  toes  or 
inequalities  in  height  of  wall,  which  displace  the  natural  angle 
of  the  foot — is,  after  all,  not  difficult  to  detect  when  knowing 
how  and  where  to  look  for  them,  and  may  easily  be  regulated  by 
any  one  who  will  attentively  consider  the  principles  of  adjust- 
ment as  defined  in  connection  with  the  use  of  the  instruments. 
Chapter  IV. 

If  the  heels  are  allowed  to  grow  too  high  the  greater  part 
of  the  weight  is  thrown  forward  upon  the  toe  and  bony  struct- 
ures of  the  limb,  and  the  bones  of  the  foot  are  forced  forward 
against  the  wall  in  front.  Inflammation  of  the  foot  and  soreness 
in  the  joints  and  bones  soon  follow.  If  the  toes,  on  the  contrary, 
are  allowed  to  grow  too  long,  then  the  excess  of  weight  is  thrown 
upon  the  back  part  of  the  foot  and  the  flexor  tendons  become 
sore,  strained  or  ruptured.  If  one  heel  or  quarter  is  permitted 
to  grow  higher  than  the  other,  the  high  side  wnll  receive  the  first 
jar  in  landing,  which  bruises  the  heel  on  that  side  and  causes 
inflammation  and  corns.  The  hoofs,  therefore,  must  be  pared 
or  dressed  in  such  a  way  that  the  weight  of  the  animal  will  be 
equally  distributed  upon  the  ball  of  the  foot  between  the  bonea 


134  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

and  flexor  tendons,  in   accordance  with  the  instructions  e^ivern 
for  leveling  and  balancing  the  feet,  as  described  in  Chap.  IV. 

The  use  of  toe  and  heel  calks  will  also  produce  soreness  or 
lameness  in  fast  horses  by  their  uncertain  or  unequal  contact 
with  rough,  stony  pavements,  causing  a  side  rocking  or  tilting 
motion  in  the  limb,  racking  the  joints  of  the  foot  which  are  not 
capable  of  much  lateral  motion. 

Another  cause  that  is  generally  overlooked  is  the  attachment 
of  shoes  with  an  unequal  number  of  nails  on  either  side  of  its 
branches.  For  example,  if  four  nails  are  used  on  the  outside 
and  only  three  on  the  inside  branch  of  the  shoe,  the  inner  side^ 
with  the  least  number  of  nails  being  less  permanently  fixed, 
yields  to  the  outside  more  firmly  seated  on  the  unyielding 
shoe,  and  thus  by  growth  and  tension  the  inner  side  (with  less 
nails),  is  gradually  forced  in  or  under  the  leg,  while  the  outer 
side  (with  more  nails),  is  correspondingly  carried  outward  and 
away  from  its  normal  center  and  thus  the  hoof  becomes  de- 
formed and  its  movements  deranged.  Then,  by  a  reversal  of  th& 
above  arrangement,  that  is  to  drive  four  nails  on  the  inner  side 
of  the  shoe  and  only  three  on  the  outer,  the  process  will  in  twa 
or  three  shoeings,  return  the  foot  to  its  natural  form  and  straight 
position  by  the  same  means  and  in  the  same  manner  through 
which  it  had  lost  them.  This  demonstrates  the  necessity  of 
shoeing  according  to  the  principles  already  defined — having  the 
nails  alike  on  both  sides  and  set  opposite  each  other,  as  directed 
with  Fig.  27. 

Locating  the  Lameness. — ^o  horseman  or  farrier  need  be 
told  the  eftects  of  splints,  sidebones,  curbs,  spavins  or  ringbones, 
or  how  they  make  themselves  known  by  the  condition  of  the 
organs  to  which  they  extend.  Hence  I  shall  not  now  attempt 
to  define  their  symptoms,  as  they  will  be  succinctly  dealt  with 
hereafter,  but  confine  the  present  inquiry  to  a  search  for  more 
obscure  conditions  which  may  attack  the  foot,  while  having  their 


LAMENESS   AND   DISEASES,    ETC.  135 

location  elsewhere,  or  otherwise  appear  in  remote  regions  when 
the  foot  itself  is  at  fault. 

The  nicest  observation  is  sometimes  demanded  to  identify 
and  locate  the  causes  which  produce  certain  derangements  of 
the  locomotory  apparatus,  where  a  horse  is  said  to  "  go  sore,"  or 
exhibits  signs  of  tenderness.  Simple  or  severe  lameness,  where 
the  condition  of  disabled  functions  is  plainly  manifested  by  the 
animal  refusing  to  use  an  injured  leg,  or  to  bear  any  or  an  equal 
portion  of  its  weight  upon  a  disabled  foot,  may  easily  be  de- 
tected ;  but  mere  tenderness  or  soreness  is  more  difficult  to  lo- 
cate. Serious  results  may  at  times  follow  from  the  obscurity 
enveloping  the  early  stages  of  many  foot  ailments,  for  in  the 
absence  of  early  treatment,  which  a  correct  diagnosis  would  have 
given,  they  may  easily  develop  into  more  complicated  maladies 
or  become  transformed  into  chronic,  incurable  cases.  Hence  the 
importance  of  early  symptoms,  how  they  betray  themselves,  and 
what  region  or  structure  is  affected. 

A  little  observation  on  the  part  of  the  driver  will  readily 
detect  any  irregularity  or  change  in  the  movement  of  his  horse, 
but  just  where  lies  the  fault  is  not  so  easily  determined.  If  the 
horse  is  trotted  slowly  down  hill  and  shows  more  evident  signs 
of  lameness  than  when  going  on  the  level,  it  is  an  indication  of 
high  or  bruised  heels  ;  again,  if  more  distress  is  shown  in  going 
up  the  grade,  long  toes  are  the  probable  cause.  Soreness  of  the 
shoulder  muscles  is  also  betrayed  in  a  dragging  movement  of 
the  toes  when  going  up  hill. 

In  case  these  preliminaries  are  not  conclusive,  lose  no  time 
in  turning  the  horse  over  to  some  competent  farrier.  The  next 
proceeding  is  naturally  the  removal  of  the  horse's  shoes  to  ex- 
amine the  soles  and  hoofs  all  around,  for  nail  pricks  or  punc- 
tured wounds  and  external  injuries  or  bruises  of  any  kind. 
Having  closely  observed  these  parts  and  settled  their  connection 
with  any  symptoms  of  lameness,  proceed  to  examine  for  internal 
soreness  by  using  my  foot  testers   (Fig.   195),  to   compress  the 


136  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

lower  iiargiu  of  the  wall  all  around,  from  toe  to  heel  as  high  as- 
the  nr..i  hole-.  If  there  is  any  soreness  in  this  region  the  horse 
will  fl.nch  or  slirink  from  the  pressure,  but  if  nothing  is  mani- 
fested in  this  way  continue  the  same  process  up  around  the  cor- 
onet by  gripping  it  between  the  base  of  the  hoof  in  the  jaws  of 
the  tester,  same  as  before.  Then  if  the  cause  of  the  trouble  or 
its  seat  still  remains  in  doubt,  pursue  the  investigation  to  other 
regions  of  the  limb  or  trunk  as  recommended  for  "modification 
of  action,"  page  106. 

Laminitis,  or  Founder. — Under  this  double  head  is  ex- 
pressed one  of  the  most  insidious  of  all  foot  ailments.  The 
former  gives  "  a  local  habitation  and  a  name  "  to  the  disease  as 
applied  to  the  laminar  tissues,  while  the  other  recognizes  it  more 
in  effect  as  indicating  the  "  sinking "  or  falling  of  the  foot 
structures  or  the  failure  of  their  functional  activity  as  implied 
by  the  word  "  foundered,"  by  which  name  the  malady  is  most 
familiarly  known.  Its  particular  character  is  an  inflammation 
of  the  sensitive  laminae,  and  its  general  symptoms  are  so  well 
manifested  by  the  impairment  of  the  bodily  vigor  and  power  of 
locomotion,  or  weakness  and  stiffness  in  the  limbs,  accompanied 
with  signs  of  acute  pain  which  the  suffering  animal  attempts  to 
relieve  by  disposing  his  weight  on  the  sound  members,  that  its 
presence  is  not  easily  mistaken.  It  may  be  confined  to  a  limited 
region,  or  it  may  involve  the  entire  tissue  of  one  or  all  four 
feet,  though  the  front  feet  are  the  ones  most  affected.  Various 
causes  are  assigned  as  productive  of  this  disease,  such  as  drink- 
ing too  freely  of  cold  water  while  overheated,  rapid  changes 
from  heat  to  cold  by  exposure  to  cold  wind,  rain,  or  washing  the 
feet  and  legs  in  cold  water  when  the  animal  has  been  violently 
exercised  or  is  exhausted  by  work,  over-exertion  and  at  times 
over-feeding  of  certain  grain,  especially  corn  ;  bad  shoeing  is 
also — here  as  elsewhere — a  prevalent  factor  by  paring  out  and 
weakening  the  foot,  or  by  applying  high  heeled  shoes,  etc. 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC.  137 

Primary  or  Passive  Stage. — The  early  stages  of  this  dis- 
order may  consist  only  of  a  simple  congestion  of  the  sole  tissues, 
but  as  it  develops  rapidly,  if  suffered  to  run  its  course,  the  mor- 
bid process  will  involve  other  regions  in  its  destructive  changes, 
and  severe  lameness — extremely  difficult  of  cure — or  entire 
physical  disability  will  result.  The  most  prompt  and  efficacious 
treatment  should  therefore  be  resorted  to  at  the  first  symptoms 
of  an  oncoming  attack,  as  the  conditions  are  then  favorable  for 
speedy  relief,  and  the  disease  may  be  checked  or  cured  in  one 
or  two  days'  time. 

When  the  evidences  of  soreness  or  weakness  appear,  or  the 
horse  stumbles  and  shifts  his  gait  by  declining  to  use  his  feet  in 
the  natural  way,  have  the  farrier  remove  his  shoes  and  pare  the 
sole  of  the  foot  thin,  that  the  resistance  of  the  horn  may  not 
obstruct  the  after  measures,  then  lightly  replace  the  shoes  hy 
tacking  them  on  with  two  nails  on  each  side.  Cover  the  body, 
neck  and  legs  warmly  with  several  blankets  (strapping  them  on 
closely  all  around)  and  place  the  feet  in  tubs  of  warm  water — 
heated  to  a  good  temperature — which  should  be  ke[)t  so  by  re- 
placing the  water  as  it  cools  with  a  warm  supply,  as  in  this 
way  the  return  flow  of  blood  will  be  increased.  Warm  drinks 
are  also  recommended  to  stimulate  internal  circulation,  the  con- 
gestion will  be  overcome  or  re-absorbed,  and  by  continuing  this 
treatment  for  twenty-four  hours,  the  symptoms  will  subside  and 
the  normal  functions  be  practically  restored  without  disorgani- 
zation. 

Acute  stage  Villitis. — When  this  form  of  congestion 
spreads  or  progresses  into  a  more  acute  stage  it  is  attended  with 
more  evidences  of  soreness  and  lameness,  evidenced  by  greater 
unwillingness  of  the  animal's  movements  as  well  as  by  the  vari- 
ous positions  which  it  carefully  assumes  in  attempting  to  allevi- 
ate the  distress  of  weight  on  the  inflamed  member.  This  sec- 
ondary or  extended  stage  is  known  as  villitis,  because  it  is  prin- 


138  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

cipally  confined  to  the  villous  tissue  of  the  sensitive  sole  ;  but  the 
point  of  greatest  sensation,  is  naturally,  in  the  region  of  the  toe, 
where  the  sole  and  laminal  tissues  blend  into  each  other;  which 
increases  the  vessels  of  that  part,  hence  the  sensitive  laminae 
may  also  become  congested  or  inflamed.  The  treatment  for  these 
acute  cases  is  the  same  as  for  the  more  passive  cases  above  pre- 
scribed, and  usually  the  symptoms  will  pass  away  or  recovery 
be  accomplished  within  a  comparatively  short  space  of  time. 

Imperfect  recoveries,  however,  naturally  impair  the  secre- 
tive powers  of  the  sensitive  sole,  and  thus  renders  it  liable  to 
after  efiects,  which  may  be  obviated  if  properly  managed. 

Chronic  or  Violent  Stage. — True  laminitis  is  the  sequel 
of  the  progressive  development  or  culmination  of  the  acute 
stage,  when  the  inflammation  becomes  general  throughout  the 
laminae  and  the  tendency  to  injurious  changes  of  the  structures 
become  more  marked.  When  this  stage  of  the  disease  is  reached, 
the  symptoms  are  greatly  increased  and  the  distress  of  the  animal 
correspondingly  intensified.  The  inability  to  support  weight 
often  causes  it  to  lie  down,  and  constitutional  disturbance  by  loss 
of  appetite  and  feverish  restlessness  are  attendant  character- 
istics of  this  phase  of  the  disease. 

The  vital  connection  which  these  laminae  sustain  to  the  en- 
tire animal  economy  and  their  situation  between  the  horny  hoof 
and  the  bony  structures  of  the  foot,  necessarily  renders  any  com- 
pression or  inflammation  of  them  one  of  peculiar  injury  and 
suffering  to  the  horse.  When  thus  affected  they  are  no  longer 
able  to  perform  the  function  of  weight  bearers,  their  power  of 
withstanding  the  work  imposed  on  them  is  lessened,  and  the 
pressure  upon  them  gradually  weakens  and  destroys  their  at- 
tachment to  the  hoof,  letting  the  bones  descend  upon  the  sole, 
resulting  in  that  condition  of  helplessness  and  disability  known 
as  "  founder."  This  indicates  that  when  laminitis  becomes 
firmly   established   or   deep  rooted,   various   complications   are 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


139 


inevitable.  Other  organs 
are  invaded,  the  parts  af- 
fected become  useless  and 
the  animal  either  becomes 
an  incurable  cripple  or  is 
soon  relieved  by  death. 

This  illustration  gives 
a  correct  impression  of 
the  ravages  of  laminitis, 
when  its  processes  con- 
tinue to  the  chronic  stage, 
whereby  the  joints,  ten- 
dons and  other  structures 
of  the  foot  are  alike  in- 
volved and  their  functions 
impaired.  The  disease 
has  destroyed  the  laminal 
connections,  a  forced  sep- 
aration of  the  parts  has  cannon  bone.  G,  Horny  sole.  H,  Plantar 
turned  or  dished  the  hoof, 
and  depressed  the  coffin- 
bone  upon  the  sole,  which 
has  thus  become  weak, 
thin,  and  bulged  or  drop- 
ped downward.  The  space  between  the  bone  and  hoof  being 
filled  with  a  fungous  deposit  resembling  honey-comb. 

In  dressing  a  foot  of  the  kind  shown  in  Fig.  34,  it  is  first 
necessary  to  foreshorten  the  toe  as  much  as  can  be  safely  done 
without  injury,  by  rasping  around  the  front  and  sides  and  tak- 
ing out  the  "  dish,"  and  restoring  the  hoof  to  its  natural  shape 
as  far  as  possible.  In  feet  of  this  kind,  the  sole  is  thin  and  weak, 
hence  care  must  be  taken  that  it  is  not  cut  or  pared  in  any 
way  around  the  point  of  the  frog.     When  leveling  the  wall  for 

the  shoe,  commence  at  the  heels  and  lower  both  sides  as  much 
10 


Fig.  34.  median  section  of  a  "  found- 
ered "  FOOT,  showing  the  SE'-'ERE  EFFECTS 
OF   CHRONIC   LAMINITIS. 

A,  Coffin-  or  pedal-bone.  B,  Navicular 
bone.  C,  Lower  pastern.  D,  Upper  pas- 
tern bone.     E,  Sesamoid.     F,  Lower  end  of 


cushion.     K,  Velvety  tissue    or    sensitive 
sole.     M,   "Wall,   dished  or  turned  up  toe.. 
N,  Laminal  tissue — the   seat  of  laminitis. 
O,  Fungous  growth.     P,  Extensor  tendon. 
R,  Flexor  perforatus.     S,  Flexor  perforans. 


140 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.   35.    front  foot   shoe    fob  dropped 
soles  and  fob  flat,  weak  soled  feet. 

A,  Bevel  on  toe  from  calk  to  outer  rim. 

B,  Long  toe  calk  set  back  from  front. 


as  can  be  safely  done,  and 
this  operation  must  be 
carried  forward  toward 
the  quarters.  In  some 
cases  where  the  sole  is 
badly  dropped,  it  will  be 
found  impossible  to  get 
more  than  two  and  one 
half  to  three  inches  level 
bearing  for  the  shoe. 
When  the  foot  is  thus 
prepared  apply  the  style 
of  shoe  shown  in  Fig. 
35. 

By  having  the  toe 
set  well  back  on  the  shoe, 
the  center  of  gravity  will 
fall  more  directly  under  the  bearing  of  the  foot  and  leg 
bones,  and  thus  the  strain  will  be  partly  taken  off  the  weak- 
ened laminae.  If  the  foot  be  too  wide  at  the  heels  and  quar- 
ters, clips  should  be  drawn  up  on  both  sides  of  the  shoe,  opposite 
the  wings  of  the  coffin-bone,  that  the  hoof  may  be  retained  from 
further  expansion.  Clips  are  not  to  be  used  in  front;  bevel  the 
front  part  of  the  shoe  at  the  toe  on  the  ground  surface  in  order 
to  prevent  the  horse  from  stumbling  or  tripping.  Reset  the 
shoes  every  three  weeks,  by  lowering  the  heels  again,  and,  in 
four  or  five  shoeings,  the  sole  will  return  to  its  natural  concave 
form.     Do  not  file  or  rasp  the  new  growth. 

The  shoe  being  nailed  solidly  at  the  heels,  it  will  be  readily 
seen  that  the  front  part  being  released,  and  an  open  space  inter- 
vening between  the  foot  and  the  shoe,  the  foot  will  press  down 
to  meet  the  shoe  at  every  step  which  the  horse  takes  forward, 
and  just  in  proportion  as  the  foot  springs  down,  the  sole  will  be 
returned  to  its  natural  cup-like  form. 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


1-il 


Fig.  36.  side  view  of  hoof  showing 
the    effects   of  springing   the   shoe   off 

THE     HEEL. 

A,  Lower  margin  of  horny  frog.  B,  Side 
or  quarter  of  wall.  C,  Cavity  for  the  cor- 
onary cushion.     D,  Shoe  on  the  hoof. 


DROPPED    SOLE    CAUSED    BY    BAD    SHOEING. 

Three  views  from  a  single  specivien. 

The  illustrations  on 
this  and  the  following  page 
are  typical  examples  of 
the  condition  of  a  found- 
ered foot,  or  dropped  sole 
resulting  from  bad  shoe- 
ing. 

Springing  the  shoes 
off  the  heels,  thereby 
breaking  down  the  quar- 
ters will  cause  such  effects, 
especially  in  large  draft 
horses  that  have  low, 
broad  heels,  and  Figs.  36 
and  37  show  an  instance 
of  this  kind.  It  is  plain 
that  such  style  of  shoeing 
must  prove  disastrous  in 
the  extreme,  whereas  if 
the  shoe  had  been  fitted  so 
that  the  heels  would  have 
corresponded  with  the 
dotted  lines  F,  F,  F,  F, 
Fig.  37,  the  trouble  would 
have  been  avoided.  The 
excessive  width  of  this 
foot  as  compared  with  its 
length  from  toe  to  heel  in- 
dicates that  the  quarters 
have  been  broken  down, 
the  heels  worn   low   and 


Fig.  37.     eottoji  view  of  same  hoop. 

A,  Cleft  of  frog.  B,  Horny  frog.  C, 
Commissures.  D,  Bars.  F,  P,  F,  F,  Dotted 
lines  showing  where  the  shoes  ought  to  have 
been  fitted  to  cover  the  quarters  and  heels. 
E,  E,  Bulge  of  heels  pre.ssed  through  shoe 
by  too  wide  fitting.  G,  G,  Lower  face  of 
horny  sole. 


142 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.   38.    side   view    of   coffin-boxe   out   of 
THE  FOOT,  Figs.  36  and  37. 


become  bruised  and 
curled  under  or  bulged 
below  the  shoe,  and 
low  heels  will  produce 
a  "wheel"  foot,  such 
as  shown  in  Fig.  36. 
Fig.  38  shows  the  coffin- 
bone  from  same  foot 
much  distorted  from  its  original  form  by  the  effects  of  faulty 
shoeing,  as  well  as  of  disease  resulting  from  the  same. 

Peditis  is  the  term  applied  to  this  serious  complication  of 
laminitis,  where  not  only  the  laminfe  but  the  periosteum  and 
the  coffin-bone  are  also  subject  to  the  inflammatory  process 
which  sometimes  involves  the  coffin-joint. 

Depression  of  the  coffin-bone  is  oftentimes  accompanied 
with  suppuration,  where  the  separation  of  the  reticulum  from 
the  bone  takes  place,  and  gangrene  and  superficial  caries  are 
common  results. 

The  destructive  effects  of  this  disease  upon  the  internal 
structure  of  the  foot  are  well  displayed  in  this  drawing.  The 
bone  has  become  much  distorted  from  its  original  form,  from 
the  pressure  of  the  part  constantly  under  weight  when  the  sole 
has  become  dropped;  the  upper  surface  has  "dished,"  as  it 
were,  or  fallen  in,  until  only  one  half  its  original  height,  while 
an  immense  number  of  small  spines  or  thorn-like  spurs  have 
grown  all  over  it,  and  the  lower  part  of  the  bone  has  convexed 
in  an  extreme  degree,  bulging  down  until  it  had  lost  all  sem- 
blance of  its  original  shape. 

In  a  preceding  chapter  instructions  have  been  laid  down  for 
the  management  and  shoeing  of  the  feet  of  draft  horses,  and 
if  they  are  carefully  followed  the  most  satisfactory  results  will 
be  obtained. 


LAMEXESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


143 


In  paring  and  dressing  such  a  foot  as  shown  here,  the  oper- 
ation must  be  the  reverse  of  that  described  in  Fig.  34,  that  is 
the  height  or  depth  of  toe  being  excessive  in  this  case,  it  must 
be  reduced  as  much  as  possible,  and  the  heels  left  intact.  The 
shoe  bearings  then,  thus  obtained,  being  around  the  front  part 
of  the  shoe,  use  shoe  Fig.  35,  but  nail  around  the  toe  instead  of 
at  the  heels.  Or  it  may  be  necessary  to  resort  to  a  bar  shoe  for 
restoring  the  foot,  but  this  will  depend  on  the  judgment  of  the 
farrier. 

Seedy  Toe. — Among 
the  complicated  eflects 
of  chronic  laminitis  is 
a  peculiar  dessication 
of  the  hoof  commonly 
known  as  "  Seedy  Toe." 
This  condition  is  well 
represented  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  Fig.  39,  in 
which  is  also  seen  the 
evidences  of  neglect  in  dressing  and  leveling  the  foot.  In  this 
specimen  the  wall  is  twice  its  natural  thickness  on  the  side  in 
view,  it  will  be  noticed  that  it  is  also  scarred  and  seamed  with 
rough  ridges — due  to  irregular  secretion  of  horn — while  the  heel 
is  abnormally  high,  the  sole  being  fully  IJ  inches  too  thick,  and 
the  toe  turns  up  from  an  overgrow^th  at  least  two  inches  too 
long.  Laminitis  does  not  always  involve  the  whole  of  the  leafy 
tissue — even  in  the  present  instance — the  morbid  process  appears 
to  have  destroyed  only  certain  regions,  where  the  leaves  take  on 
a  regular  honey-combed  appearance,  while  other  portions  pre- 
sent a  comparatively  sound  and  healthy  structure.  But  in  most 
cases  it  develops  rapidly,  and  if  unchecked,  continues  to  spread 
until  the  entire  region  is  involved,  with  structural  changes  of 
the  most  serious  character. 


Fig.  39.    specimen  of  seedy  toe. 


144 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


For  a  foot  affected  in  this  manner,  pare  the  hoof  level  and 
as  low  as  possible,  rasp  the  wall  thin  from  coronet  to  ground 
surface,  and  get  the  hoof  back  near  as  may  be  to  its  natural 
shape.  If  there  is  any  tenderness  in  the  sole  it  must  be  protected 
by  using  a  plain,  flat,  broad-webbed  shoe,  w^ell  concaved  on  the 
sole-bearing  surface,  the  nail  holes  to  be  punched  where  the  foot 
is  least  aflected,  and  the  shoes  reset  every  two  or  three  weeks. 
It  is  difficult  to  describe  any  particular  style  of  shoe  to  meet  the 
emergencies  of  such  cases,  and  the  farrier  must  judge  what  is 
best.  Cold  water  bandages  around  the  coronet  will  assist  in 
keeping  the  horn  moist  and  allaying  fever  and  pain. 

Fig.  40  illustrates 
the  further  ravasres 
of  chronic  laminitis, 
in  which  its  destruc- 
tive effects  (coupled 
with  the  mismanage- 
ment of  the  foot)  are 
perhaps  more  plainly 
discernible.  In  this 
instance  the  heels 
have  been  allowed  to 
grow  to  such  an  ex- 
tent as  to  raise  them 
far  above  their  nor- 
mal position.  The 
normal  angle  of  the 
heel  from  the  ground 


Fig.  40.     another  example  of  seedy  toe. 

A,  A,  Angle  of  hoof  as  it  stands,  34  degrees. 
B,  B,  Line  to  which  surplus  growth  of  front  wall 
should  be  removed.  C,  Cavity  for  coronary  cush- 
ion. D,  Horny  laminae.  E,  E,  Line  to  which 
surplus  growth  should  be  removed  at  base.  E,  J, 
Indicating  how  much  heels  will  be  lowered  by 
reducing  the  base  of  hoof.  F,  Point  to  which 
coffin-bone  was  wasted.  G,  Normal  extent  of 
coffin-bone.  H,  Line  indicating  front  angle  of 
coffin-bone  to  be  75  degrees  (should  be  50).  I,  G, 
Line  to  which  coffin-bone  will  conform  when 
hoof  is  reduced  as  directed. 


surface  to  the  coronet  is  the  same  as  the  angle  of  the  front  part  of 
the  foot  from  toe  to  coronet.  In  proportion,  however,  as  the 
toe  lengthens,  just  so  much  will  the  angle  of  the  ground  surface 
of  the  foot  be  carried  forward,  as  seen  in  the  above  diagram, 
which  shows  the  growth  at  the  back  of  the  quarters  to  be  of 
unusual  height,  raising  the  heels  up  out  of  their  natural  angle, 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


145 


and,  as  the  heels  are  raised  up,  just  so  much  the  heels  of  the 

coffin-bone  are  elevated,  and  the  point  of  the  bone   is  pressed 

forward  against  the  front  part  of  the  foot,  preventing  the  action 

of  the  secretive  powers,  bringing  on  inflammation,  burning  and 

scalding,  and  destroying  the  life  of  the  foot,   causing  what  is 

called  seedy  toe.     In  shoeing  a  foot  of  this  description,  great 

care  must  be  taken  that  none  of  the  sole  be  removed  around  the 

point  of  the  frog.     Remove  the  surplus  growth  from  quarters  to 

heel  as  shown  by  line,  E,  E.     By  removing  surplus  growth  the 

heels  will  be  lowered 

as  shown  from  E  to 

J,  and  the  pressure 

will   be   relieved   on 

point  of  coffin-bone. 

Remove  the  surplus 

growth    in    front    to  Fig.  41.    the  same  hoof  with  one  side  prop- 

thp  linp    B    B    after  ^-^^^  pared  and  straightened,  as  indicated  by 

'       '  dotted  lines  in  fig.  40. 
which  the  foot  will 

-LIT  -4.  A,  Effects  of  disease  on  bornv  lamina\     B,  B, 

be    placed   upon    its     ^     '  ,       ,  ,        ,  •       ,     ,        \ 

^  ^  Correct  angle   of    toe   after  removal   ot    surplus 

natural    angle    of  46      growth  as  shown— 46  degrees.     C,  Cavity  for  cor- 

deo-rees.         Compare      ^"^'"-^  cushion.     D,  Horny  laminw.     E,  Surplus 
*  _  growth  to  be  removed  on  the  opposite  side.     P, 

this  foot  with  Fig.  Elevation  of  toe  of  hoof  above  shoe,  to  obviate 
41.     As  the  sole  will      pressure. 

be  quite  tender  and  sore  at  the  point  of  the  frog,  the  shoe  must 
be  well  concaved  around  the  front.  Use  shoe  shown  in  Fig.  35. 
Rivet  leather  at  the  heels,  letting  it  extend  all  over  the  shoe. 
Take  fat  pickled  pork  out  of  the  brine,  and  cutting  in  slices,  cover 
the  bottom  of  the  foot  well,  and  then  nail  on  the  shoe  slightly. 
Afterward  stand  the  horse  in  a  soaking  tub  of  warm  water  for 
three  or  four  hours.  This  will  melt  the  pork,  and  thus  assist  in 
speedily  removing  the  soreness.  Bear  in  mind  to  keep  the 
pressure  off  around  the  point  and  sides  of  toe,  and  thus  give 
great  freedom  to  the  diseased  parts.  Keep  the  soaking  swabs 
•around  the  coronet  wet  with  warm  water.    Reset  the  shoes  every 


146 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


two  or  three  weeks  in  order  to  check  or  keep  down  the  under- 
growth of  heels  and  quarters. 

I  have  often  taken  feet  when  the  coffin-bone  had  worn 
through  the  sole  at  its  point,  and  by  the  above  treatment  have 
restored  them  to  their  normal  condition,  and  they  have  ever 

afterward  remained  sound. 

The     effects      of     chronic 

cases  of  founder  or  laminitis 
upon  the  foot  are  seen  in  Fig. 
42  ;  and  not  only  the  foot, 
but  every  tendon,  joint  and 
bone  from  the  knee  to  the  foot 
is  seriously  effected.  These 
evils  can  be  reasonably  attrib- 
uted to  the  want  of  skillful 
knowledge  of  horseshoeing  and 
of  the  management  of  the 
hoof. 

In  paring  a  foot  of  this 
kind,  follow  the  instructions 
laid  down  for  paring  the  flat 
foot ;  always  bearing  in  mind 
the  necessity  of  getting  and 
keeping  the  foot  in  its  natural 
position.  Use  shoe  described 
in  Fig.  35. 

When  describing  the  lateral  cartilages  in  the  chapter  on 
"  The  Foot  of  the-  Horse,"  a  brief  reference  was  made  to  certain 
derangements  of  their  natural  structure  by  process  of  inflamma- 
tion, through  which  they  lose  their  soft  elastic  qualities  and  are 
changed  into  bone.  Fig.  43  represents  a  typical  case  of 
the  disease  mentioned,  which  is  often  met  with  in  prac- 
tice, especially  in  heavy  draft  horses,  though  speed  and  saddle 
horses  and  also  well-bred  carriage  horses,  are  not  exempt  from 


Pig.  42. 


DISHED   FOOT   AND     DROPPED 
SOLE. 


A,  A,  Line  to  which  surphis  growth 
at  toe  is  to  be  removed.  B,  B,  Ground 
line  to  which  surplus  growth  is  to  be 
reduced  from  heel  to  quarter. 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


147 


Fig.  43.  coffin-bone  with  supplemkntal  at- 
tachment OF  SIDE  BONE  OR  OSSIFIED  LATERAL 
CARTILAGE. 

A,  Body  of  coffin-bone.  B,  Lower  margin  of 
its  wing.  C,  Side  bone  or  ossified  cartilage  sur- 
mounting the  wing. 


its  attacks,  and  in 
some  instances  it  is 
hereditary. 

There  are  num- 
bers of  conditions 
which  may  be  the 
exciting  cause  of  this 
bony  formation  ;  va- 
rious diseases  of  the 
foot  may  occasionally 
involve  the  connec- 
tive tissues,  such  as 
ulcered  heels  and 
laminitis ;  but  con- 
traction, violent  concussion  or  injuries,  and  over  distension  by 
weight,  bad  shoeing  and  unlevel  feet  are  the  prevailing  causes 
of  ossific  development.  The  present  example  is  to  be  classed 
with  others  resulting 
from  bad  shoeing, 
and  is  the  outcome 
of  the  next  morbid 
specimen,  here  intro- 
duced as  a  dismal 
relic  of  perverted 
appliances. 

In  this  case,  the 
distorted  condition 
of  the  hoof — the 
twisted  heel  and  cor- 
rugated coronet — the 
diseased    appearance 

of   the  laminae,  and  the  disorganized  character  of  the  whole 

structure  generally,  are  the  consistent  product  of  one  common 

actor,  namely,  an  uneven  ground-bearing  of  the  foot.     To  still 


Fia.   44.    VIEW  OP  the  hoop   (op  right   front 

foot)  in  which  the  bone  (fig.  40)  WAS  IMBEDDED 
AS  INDICATED,  BY  THE  DISTORTION  OF  THE  OUTSIDE 
HEEL. 


148 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


further  illustrate  and  explain  the  subject,  I  insert  here  two  op- 
posing views  of  the  bones  of  the  front  foot  and  leg  in  order  to 
establish  a  comparison  between  the  normal  and  abnormal  posi- 
tion of  which  they  are  the  representations. 


i~ 


v',,!» 


Fig.  45.  normal  position,  front  view. 

E,  E,  Vertical  line  through  axis  of 
joints.  A,  Cannon-boTie.  B,  Upper 
pastern.  C,  Lower  pastern.  D,  Cof- 
fin-bone. F,  F,  Inner  and  outer 
splints.  G,  G,  G,  Lower  row  of  knee 
bones.     H,  H,  Upper  row. 

The  knees  and  hooks  are  formed  of 
several  small  bones  placed  in  two 
rows,  articulating  with  the  larger  bones 
above  and  below,  as  shown  and  de- 
scribed in  skeleton.  Fig.  2. 


Fig.   46.     abnormal    position,   back 

VIEW. 

A,  B,  Level  to  which  the  foot  should 
conform.  C,  Vertical  line  locating 
center  of  axis  and  indicating  the  dis- 
placement cansed  by  unlevel  base 
of  foot  throwing  the  weight  on  the 
outside  heel.  D,  Coffin-bone.  E, 
Navicular.  F,  Lower  pastern.  G, 
Upper  pastern.  H,  H,  Sesamoids. 
I,  Cannon-bone.  J,  J,  Splints  (the 
highest  one  diseased).  K,  Morbid 
enlargement  of  upper  pastern.  L,  L, 
Side  bones  or  ossified  cartilages. 


LAMENESS    ASD    DISEASES,    ETC.  149 

The  parallel  of  these  views  is  self  evident,  and  but  little  is  to 
said  in  addition  to  my  former  observations  on  leveling  and  bal- 
ancing the  foot.  When  the  bones  and  joints  are  in  their  natural 
relations,  as  shown  in  Fig.  45,  the  precision  and  accuracy  of  their 
functional  activity  is  assured.  The  weight  is  carried  through 
the  normal  centers  of  the  limbs,  the  foot  rests  naturally,  with 
every  part  of  the  apparatus  sustaining  its  proper  share  of  the 
burden,  and  when  springing  from  the  ground  it  is  in  direct  line 
with  the  median  plane  of  the  body,  and  its  movement  forward 
and  back  is  as  regular  as  the  swing  of  a  pendulum.  But  when 
the  ground-bearing  of  the  hoof  is  uneven,  as  shown  in  Fig.  46, 
the  incidence  of  the  muscles  is  misdirected,  the  bones  and  their 
articulations  are  displaced  from  the  extremity  of  the  limb  to  its 
union  with  the  trunk,  iuid  derangement  of  the  entire  structure 
is  the  inevitable  result.  To  simplify  the  matter  by  a  further  de- 
scription of  Fig.  46,  it  is  seen  that  the  base  of  the  foot  is  not 
level  w^ith  the  line  below%  and  that  this  deflects  the  bony  column 
out  of  the  perpendicular.  Assuming  the  width  of  the  hoof  to 
be  four  inches,  and  the  distance  from  the  base  to  the  knee  to  be 
twenty  inches,  any  unevenness,  starting  at  one  side  or  the  other  of 
the  base,  increases  in  the  ratio  of  five  to  one  ;  thus,  a  displacement 
•of  one-fourth  of  an  inch  at  the  bottom  of  the  foot,  will  amount 
to  a  displacement  of  one  and  one-quarter  inches  at  the  knee.  Im- 
proper paring  of  the  hoof  is  of  too  frequent  occurrence,  and  this 
illustration  is  only  one  of  the  many  serious  results  following 
from  a  disregard  of  the  first  principles  of  shoeing.  Impaired 
nutrition,  diminished  and  obstructed  secretion,  abnormal  growths 
and  structural  changes  are  always  associated  with  it.  It  is  im- 
possible for  a  horse  to  spring  from  the  ground  or  land  on  it  in 
a  line  with  the  movements  of  his  body  unless  his  feet  are  straight 
in  that  direction  and  level  in  their  bearings,  and  from  a  neglect 
in  these  regards  or  want  of  precaution  to  secure  them,  arise 
many  maladies  of  joints,  bones,  tendons,  cartilages,  laminae,  and 
other  structures  of  the  feet  and  legs. 


150 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


The  structural  change  of  cartihige 
into  bone  arises  from  a  deposit  of  lime 
salts,  and  may  be  of  rapid  or  slow 
growth.  The  usual  symptoms  are 
manifested  by  the  presence  of  fever- 
heat  around  the  affected  part,  attended 
by  more  or  less  soreness,  stiffness  or 
lameness,  and  as  the  change  advances 
it  will  be  apparent  by  enlargement  and 
by  a  sense  of  hardness  to  the  touch. 
This  illustration  indicates  the  general 
appearance  of  a  foot  in  this  condition. 
"When  thus  invaded  the  tendency  is  to 

T,       ,^  „  increase,  and  no  permanent  cure   can 

Fig.  47.     outside    appear-  '  '■ 

ANCE  OF   SIDE    BONES   WHEN   bc  ctitected  as  the  cartilao-e  tissue  can 
DEVELOPED.  ^^^^  ^^  Fcstored  ;  but  in  the  early  stages 

A,  Enlargement   of   carti-   of  the  disorder  the  calcification  may 
lage   transformed    into  bone.  i         i     i         t  •   i        •  ^ 

B,  Its  eflTect  shown  by  bulge   ^e  arrested  and  the  thickening  re-ab- 

of  wall  at  heel.     C,  C,  Ab-   sorbed  by  the  application   of  a  sweat 

normal      height      of       heels,    t  ■,•   ^  rm  •    j.- 

_,    t:,  ,      .         f     .,     ,  blister.       ihere    are    many   variations 

D,  Extension    of    side  bone  -^ 

over  pastern.     E,  Prolonga-   of  side    bones,  but  the  front  feet  are 

tion   of    side    bone   over  the  ^    t    ui      j.  xi'       r  xu  t^ 

most  liable  to  suiter  irom  them,     it 
quarter. 

both  cartilages  on  the  same  foot  are 
attacked  at  the  same  time,  it  is  noticeable  that  they  are  less  liable 
to  cause  lameness  than  if  but  one  side  is  affected. 

My  drawings  are  samples  of  the  development  of  side  bones 
on  one  side  of  the  foot  as  a  consequence  of  one  heel  of  the  hoof 
being  higher  or  longer — from  coronet  to  base — than  the  other 
which  is  provocative  of  such  malformation. 

Where  shoeing  can  be  altogether  dispensed  with  it  will  be 
better  for  the  natural  relief  of  side  bones  than  otherwise,  but 
where  shoes  are  necessary  they  must  be  made  to  suit  the  condi- 
tions of  the  foot  and  the  nature  of  the  work  to  be  performed. 

In  all  cases,  however,  when  dressing  the  foot,  follow  the  di- 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


151 


rections  given  for  the  perfect  foot,  Fig.  23.  This  will  equalize 
the  bearings  throughout,  then,  if  the  conditions  are  favorable 
for  natural  frog  pressure,  use  flat,  thin  heeled  shoes.  If  only 
one  side  bone  exists,  use  the  three-quarter  shoe.  Fig.  59,  but  if 
both  sides  are  alike  involved,  it  is  better  to  insert  a  simple  tip 
around  the  toe — the  object  being  to  place  both  shoe  and  nails 
to  the  best  advantage,  that  all  avoidable  pressure  may  be  removed 
from  the  diseased  region.  Eeset  the  shoes  at  frequent  enough 
intervals  to  keep  the  foot  true  to  its  natural  balance. 

Fig.  48.  Thelaminal 
leaves  of  the  horse's  foot 
are,  as  already  men- 
tioned, peculiarly  sus- 
ceptible to  the  influ- 
ences of  disease,  con- 
cussion, injurious  burn- 
ing, compression,  etc. 
The  present  subject  is 
a  characteristic  example 
of  the  evils  last  named. 
Spurs  of  the  horny 
laminffi  arise  from  ex- 
ternal compression  up-  a,  Spur  of  horny  laminse,  produced  by  clip 
on  toe  of  the  wall,  and   ^"  ^^loe. 

appear  upon  its  inner  surface  in  the  form  of  a  hard,  callosity  of 
varying  thickness  and  length.  In  the  above  figure  the  growth 
has  extended  the  full  length  of  the  leaves,  imbedding  itself 
against  the  cofiin-bone,  which  has  wasted  away  as  this  extra- 
neous growth  proceeded.  Fig.  49  is  a  view  of  the  lower 
face  of  same  hoof  and  completes  the  story  of  the  case.  It  shows 
a  severely  contracted  quarter  and  heel  on  one  side,  and  a  large 
surplus  growth  around  the  front  of  the  other,  and  all  over  its 
surface  are  the  visible  signs  of  hot  fitting  and  bad  shoeing.  The 
bars  and  frog  have  been  pared  away  and  the  strength  of  the 


Fig.  48.  hoof  of  draft  hoese,  indicating 
the  destructive  effects  of  hot  fitting  and 
clipping. 


152 


SCIENTIFIC     HOKSESHOEING. 


Fig.  49.   bottom  of  same  hoof,  as  in 
fig.  48,  showing  contraction    from 

QUARTER  TO  HEEL  ON    ONE   SIDE,  AND   AN      qq^ 
OVERGROWTH  FROM   QUARTER  TO   TOE   ON 
THE  OTHER. 


foot  destroyed,  together  witb 
its  balance.  In  a  natural  foot 
the  froc^  is  the  ris^ht  dividino; 
line  from  heel  to  toe,  but  in 
this  case  the  narrow  or  con- 
tracted side  was  forced  to  ac- 
cept two-thirds  of  the  whole 
weight,  as  indicated  by  its  rela- 
tive proportions. 

From  obstruction  to  its 
secretions,  the  sole  was  deprived 
of  its  elastic  properties,  and 
the  entire  hoof  was  similarly 
exhausted  and  reduced  to  a 
hard,  dry    condition    through- 


Compare  with  Fig.  23  and 
remove  the  surplus  growth  of 
the  full  side  and  supply  any  lack  of  ground  tread  on  the  con- 
tracted side  by  carrying  the  web  of  the  shoe  wide  enough  to 

cover    out   the    de- 
ficiency. 

Figs.  50  and  51 
will    serve   to    still 
further  illustrate  the 
K    tendency  of  hot  fit- 
ting and  clipping  to 
Fig.  50.    median  section  of  hoot  showing  further    ^Qp}^     destructively 

EFFECTS  OF   HOT   FITTING  AND  CLIPPING. 

«    ^    •.    /  u-         Ti   T  „f    +;o„„„   upon    inner   struct- 

A,  Cavity  tor  coronary  cushion.     B,  Leafy  tissue       ^ 

of  horny  laminae.     C,  Side  of  internal  fissure.     D,    ures   of  the   foot. 
Section  of  bulb  of  plantar  cushion.     E,  Section  of  CliDnino"    is   not 

horny  sole  at  margin  of  coffin-bone.     P,  Section  of  1 1      & 

horny  sole  at  point  of  frog.     G,  Section  of  horny  injurious  if  properly 
frog.     H,  H,  Section  of  spur  of  horny  laminae.     I,  ^q^^q         Skillful    far- 
Fungous  deposit  at  toe,    J,  Section  of  wall  at  toe. 
K,  K,  Height  ot  wall  at  toe,  angle  45  degrees.  riers    can    resort   to 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


153 


this  expedient  for  a  lifetime  with- 
out injury  to  the  foot ;  but  in  the 
hands  of  ignorant  men,  a  horse 
shod  by  this  method  is  subject  to 
certain  injury.  In  general  I  do 
not  hesitate  to  say  from  practical 
experience  that  I  believe  hot  fit- 
ting and  clipping  injurious  if  the 
feet  have  lost  their  proper  angle. 
In  the  endeavor  to  accommodate 
shoes  that  are  too  short  for  the 
feet  for  which  they  are  intended, 
ignorant  and  unskilled  farriers 
often  cut  out  the  front  of  the  foot 


Fig.  51.  upper  face  of  coffin- 
bone,  SHOWING  EFFECTS  OF  HOT 
FITTING    .\ND   CLIPPING. 


A,  A,    Extensions  or  wings  of 
heels.  B,  Eminence  on  which  isin- 
...  ,  1111  1  serted  the  extensor  tendon.     C,  C, 

until  they  draw  blood,  then  burn     L^^eral   faces.     D,  Groove  worn 

in  the  clip  so  as  to  stop  the  flow     by  spur.    E,  Depth  to  which  this 

Pill  ^  ,1  n       groove  sometimes  extends.     F,  F, 

ot    blood,    and    worse   than   all,     ^^     .    .      ^  ■  u  ..u    -l.         u     ,j 

'  '      Margin  to  which  the  bone  should 

hammer  the    clip  back  into    the     conform.    G,  G,  Articular  surface 

r     x  of  coffin-joint. 

The  result  of  such  malpractice  is  to  cause  the  heat  to  pene- 
trate into  the  sensitive  parts,  dry  up  the  secreting  nourishment 
and  cause  an  unnatural  compression  against  the  insensitive 
laminfe  at  their  union  with  the  sensitive  laminte  around  the 
lower  margin  of  the  toe.  Fever  sets  in,  drying  up  and  destroy- 
ing the  parts  under  compression,  and  the  formation  of  a  de- 
cayed, pithy,  horny  substance  is  the  result. 

But  in  addition  to  clips,  there  are  many  other  spur-produc- 
ing causes,  which  for  want  of  space  can  not  be  defined  in  the 
present  work.  Mere  mention,  however,  may  be  made  of  a  few 
that  have  come  under  my  notice,  such  as  the  driving  of  large, 
thick-bladed  nails  into  thin  shells.  This,  it  is  true,  may  not 
lay  up  the  horse,  but  the  spur  which  will  result  will  make  him 


loi  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

tender  footed,  and  if  not  at  once  remedied,  the  trouble  will  in 
time  become  aggravated.  In  a  word,  any  improper  manage- 
ment of  tlie  foot  tending  to  produce  an  unnatural  compression 
of  the  insensitive  and  sensitive  laminae,  thereby  destroying  or 
preventing  the  action  of  the  secretive  powers,  will  cause  the 
formation  of  a  spur,  large  or  small,  which,  if  not  attended  to, 
will  in  the  end  develop  to  the  great  injury  of  the  foot  and  the 
horse.  I  have  in  my  possession  many  specimens  of  hoofs  in 
which  spurs  are  present,  and  an  examination  of  them  will  show 
conclusively  the  cause  of  the  spur  in  each  case. 

Diagnosis  for  spur  in  the  toe,  and  its  causes,  will  show  the 
horse  to  be  restless  on  his  front  feet,  stretching  or  pointing  first 
one  foot  forward,  then  the  other,  and  this  action  always  in- 
dicates trouble  of  some  kind  in  the  front  part  or  toe  of  the 
foot.  If  a  decayed,  pithy,  horny  substance,  as  shown  in  Figs. 
48  and  50,  be  i'ound,  it  should  be  probed  and  cut  out  as  deeply 
as  safety  will  admit,  being  careful  not  to  draw  blood.  Fill  the 
cavity  with  my  foot  salve,  prescribed  in  the  latter  part  of  this 
book.  Finally  apply  a  shoe  suitable  for  flat  feet,  care  being 
taken  to  keep  the  pressure  off  the  toe,  as  elsewhere  shown.  If 
for  a  draught  horse,  use  shoe,  Fig.  35.  Dress  the  foot  to  make 
it  conform  as  near  as  possible  to  Fig.  23,  and  follow  the  direc- 
tions given  for  that  purpose.  It  will  be  found  impossible  to 
straighten  the  foot  at  once,  as  the  new  growth  proceeds  slowly 
from  the  coronet.  File  or  rasp  the  outside  crust  in  front  from 
coronet  to  ground  surface,  as  that  will  tend  to  release  the  in- 
ternal structures  from  pressure.  Apply  hot-water  bandages 
around  the  coronet,  for  the  purpose  of  stimulating  a  new 
growth. 

Contraction  is  almost  always  the  result  of  improper  shoeing 
and  mismanagement  of  the  foot,  primarily  due  to  overgrowth  of 
the  hoof  at  toe  and  heels.     At  times  the    shoes  remain  on  too 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


155 


Fig.  52.  contkacted  hoof. 


long  and  the  growth  of 
hoof  becomes  excessive, 
or  the  horse  may  be  al- 
lowed to  stand  in  his  stall 
in  hot  dry  weather  with- 
out sufficient  exercise, 
whereby  his  feet  become 
dry,  hard  and  feverish. 
A,  Spur  of  frog  forced  above  level  of  core-    and    such    conditions    are 

nary  band.     B,  B,  Bars  forced  above  level    exciting  causes  of  contrac- 
of  coronary  band.     C,  C,  Abnormal  height 

of  heel  from  coronet  to  ground  surface.  tion,  and  horses  thus  af- 

fected are  also  more  apt 
to  stumble  and  cut  themselves  than  would  otherwise  be  the  case. 
Fig.  52  shows  a  contracted  hoof  pro- 
duced by  an  abnormally  high  wall.  The 
appearance  of  the  same  hoof  on  its  ground 
surface  is  represented  in  Fig.  53.  The 
base  of  the  hoof  had  wired  together  un- 
til the  bars  and  spur  of  frog  were  raised 
above  the  level  of  the  coronary  band, 
against  which  the  coffin-bone  was  also 
compressed  by  being  forced  upward,  im- 
peding or  altogether  stopping  the  func- 
tional activity  of  the  vascular  tissues,  and 
causing  a  calcareous  deposit  or  bony 
formation  around  the  coronary  cushion, 
producing  stiffness  in  the  foot  joints.  By 
the  contraction  across  the  quarters,  the 
foot  was  relatively  elongated,  the  heels 

narrowing  and  closing  the  commissures    in  heiglit  of  heel  at  coro- 

.,,                               .Li      i?      1             1      •      1-  net.       F,    F,    Contracted 
With  an  overgrowth  ot  sole,  and  pinching  '      '        r>   t<  ,. 
&                               '             r               o  across  quarters.     C,  Loa- 
the frog,  as  it  were  in  a  vise,  between  the  tracted  deft.    D,  D,  Con- 

bars,  destroying  all  the  expansive  powers    ''^'''^^  ^'f'\    'f    ^7' 
'  J      &  J:  -c  E,  E,  Contracted  quarter 

.  of  the  foot.     Contraction  may  be  easily    at  base. 
11 


Fig.  53.     lower   face  of 
same  hoof. 

A,  A,  A,  A,  Abnormal 
height  of  heels  from  coro- 
net to  base.    B,  I'ilTerence 


156 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


avoided  or  overcome  by  proper  care  of  the  feet  and  right  meth- 
ods of  shoeing.  The  main  feature  is  to  keep  the  feet  as  near  as 
possible  to  their  natural  shape,  and  this  can  only  be  done  by 
leveling  and  balancing  them  as  directed  in  Chap.  IV. 

The  complica- 
tions brought  about 
by  contraction  in- 
clude not  only  the 
effects  visible  on  the 
external  parts  of  the 
hoof,  as  shown  in 
the  preceding  Figs. 
52  and  53,  but  its 
tendency  is  to  work 
many  destructive 
changes  in  the  ap- 
paratuses of  the  in- 
ternal foot,  as  is 
here  partially  indi- 
cated by  Fig,  54, 
which  represents 
the  displacement  of 
the  bony  structures 
from  such  cause. 
When  the  hoof  con- 


FlG.   54.      MEDIAN    SECTION    OP     FOOT,    SHOWING    DIS- 
PLACEMENT  CAUSED   BY   CONTRACTION. 


A,  Coffin-bone.  B,  Navicular.  C,  Lower  pastern. 
D,  Upper  pastern.  E,  Lower  end  of  cannon.  F,  Sec- 
tion of  velvety  tissue.  G,  Section  of  wall.  H,  Sec- 
tion of  horny  sole.  I,  Section  of  horny  frog. 
K,  Fragment  of  plantar  cushion.  L,  Horny  laminte.  tracts  and  Wires 
M,  Sensitive  laminae.  N,  N,  Extensor  tendon.  uii(Jer  around  the 
O,  O,  Flexor  perforatus.      P,  P,   Flexor  perforans.  v.  i  ;i 

R,  Sesamoid  ligament.  S,  Sesamoid  bone  (dotted  base,  the  sole  and 
line).  T,  T,  Branching  of  flexor  perforatus.  1,  Pyr-  fj-Qg  are  forced  up- 
amid  of  coffin-bone  displaced.     2,  Its  normal  posi-  ,  ,  .  , 

tion.     3,  Normal  position  of  coffin-joint.  ^ard,  together  With 

the  bones  and  other 
organs  of  the  foot,  until  they  are  all  tightly  cramped  by  the 
closing  in  of  the  horny  box.  The  unnatural  pressure  around 
the  sole  inflames  the  various  tissues,  causing  a  disease  of  the 


LAMENESS   AND   DISEASES,    ETC.  157 

sensitive  sole,  called  villitis,  which  may  diiFuse  itself  to  the  1am- 
inoe,  producing  laminitis  ;  and  this  progressing  may  involve  the 
coronary  cushion  in  a  process  of  hardening  and  thickening  which 
may  terminate  in  coronitis — an  ossification  of  this  organ  (simi- 
lar to  that  of  the  lateral  cartilages  w^hen  side  bones  are  forming), 
which  may  be  plainly  felt  when  examination  is  made  around  the 
coronet  at  the  quarters.  No  definite  rule  can  be  given  for  shoe- 
ing that  would  cover  all  cases  of  contraction  ;  the  farrier  must 
be  governed,  by  his  understanding  of  the  case  confronting  him. 
Good  judgment  will  direct  that  the  hoof  must  be  reduced  and 
pared  low  as  necessary  to  bring  it  to  a  good  level  bearing,  as  per 
Fig.  23,  foreshortening  the  toe  within  the  limits  of  safety.  If 
the  frog  is  hard  and  dry,  pare  it  level  with  the  wall  and  open 
up  the  commissures  along  the  sides  of  frog  and  remove  the  horny 
sole  to  its  union  with  the  w^all  by  thinning  it  until  serum 
exudes,  as  this  will  give  freedom  to  the  action  of  the  frog.  Also 
if  the  heels  are  curled  under  (like  an  in-growdng  toe  nail)  open 
them  up  as  deep  as  can  be  safely  done,  and  in  thus  giving  ex- 
pansion to  the  bottom  of  the  hoof,  it  will  relax  at  the  top  and 
allow  the  necessary  freedom  at  the  coronet  for  the  structures  to 
assume  their  normal  relations.  After  dressing  the  foot,  apply 
the  raised  split-bar  shoe,  Fig.  154,  as  this  will  assist  in  expanding 
the  hoof.  Rivet  a  good  solid  piece  of  leather  at  the  heels  of 
the  shoe  to  cover  the  bottom  of  the  foot,  then  fill  the  bottom  of 
the  foot  with  a  warm  application  of  my  foot  salve,  covering  the 
same  with,  an  overlay  of  cotton  or  oakum,  then  nail  on  the  shoe 
and  leather  pad  and  keep  pressure  ofi:'  around  the  front  part  of 
the  toe.  After  shoeing  let  the  horse  stand  with  both  front  feet 
in  tubs  of  warm  water  (to  fully  cover  the  feet  eight  or  ten  inches) 
for  two  hours  a  day  until  soreness  disappears.  Reset  the  shoes 
every  two  weeks,  pare  the  growth  off  the  base  of  the  hoof  and 
keep  the  sole  thin  so  as  to  allow  it  to  spring  under  the  weight  of 
the  body ;  at  the  same  time  have  the  feet  washed  around  the  cor- 
onet daily  with  warm  water  and  castile  soap   (as  described  in 


158 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


prescription  No.  1),  and   the  horse  may  be  worked  right  along 
without  hindrance. 

This  specimen  rep- 
resents the  effects  of 
contraction  1)V  having 
the  wall  grow  too  deep, 
the  heels  wirins;  in  un- 
til  they  came  together, 
from  coronet  to  ground 
surface,  and  the  foot 
was  hardly  more  than 
half  its  natural  diame- 
ter. The  heels  over- 
lapping each  other  had 
crowded  the  bars,  frog 
and  inner  spur  up  above 
the  coronary  band.  As 
the  crowding  of  the 
bars  thus  necessitated 
a  displacement  of  the  internal  structure,  the  coffin-bone  was 
raised  behind,  the  weight  presses  it  forward  against  the  laminfe. 
The  laminae  in  this  part  being 
■overtasked,  soreness  and  finally 
lameness  ensues. 

In  many  instances  the  mule 
is  treated  for  lameness  or  strains, 
when  the  proper  remedy  was  to 
have  had  his  feet  properly  dressed 
and  suitably  shod.  Do  not  per- 
mit the  heels  to  grow  to  an  ex- 
treme height,  pare  them  down  as 
much  as  can  be  safely  done. 

In  shoeing  a  foot  of  this 
description,   open    the   heels  and  Fig.  56.    mule  shoe. 


Fig,  55.      Mule's    hoop    showing    effects    of 
overgrowth  producing  contraction. 

A,  A,  Line  to  which  overgrowth  should  be 
removed  at  base.  55°  indicates  tlie  present  angle 
of  hoof.  45°  indicates  the  angle  to  which  it 
will  conform  when  surplus  growth,  B,  is  re- 
moved. 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


159 


weaken  them  at  both  sides  of  the  commissures,  as  thin  as  safety 
will  permit ;  keep  pressure  off  the  toe.  In  shoeing  for  drafting 
purposes,  toe  and  heel  calkins  will  be  required.  In  such  cases, 
have  them  low,  and  of  the  same  height,  that  the  foot  may  be 
kept  as  close  to  the  ground  as  possible,  and  the  animal  will 
travel  with  more  ease  and  safety.  Let  the  shoes  be  adjusted  in 
a  manner  so  as  to  fit  the  wall ;  and  to  avoid  the  possibility  of 
cramping  the  foot,  use  small  nails,  with  the  nail  holes  straight 
punched' and  driving  so  as  to  take  a  low,  short,  thick  hold.  Re- 
set the  shoes  every  three  or  four  weeks. 

The  horse's  hoof,  as  described 
in  Chap.  Ill,  is  so  constructed  that 
any  exertion  may  be  best  carried 
on  by  a  given  elasticity  from  the 
center  of  the  toe,  as  the  fulcrum 
of  a  reciprocating  motion  or 
spring  around  each  side  to  the 
heels.  Should  the  natural  con- 
ditions of  the  foot  be  altered, 
however,  by  being  deprived  of 
sufficient  moisture  to  preserve  in 
it  that  degree  of  combined  tough- 
ness and  flexibility,  the  foot  loses 
its  power  to  yield  to  pressure  and  _ 

^  ./  i  ]<jQ     ,5^        FRONT   VIEW    OF    THE   HOOF 

return,  and  when  force  suflticient     properly  dressed  for  toe  crack. 
to  overcome  its  resistance  is  ex- 
erted, the  hoof,  no  longer  capable  of  springing  to  it,  suddenly 
gives  way  by  splitting. 

This  breakao-e  occurs  wherever  the  strain  is  the  greatest — 
at  either  of  the  sides  from  the  quarters  to  the  heel,  or  directly 
through  the  middle  of  the  hoof  in  front. 

The  condition  generally  present,  then,  in  the  splitting  of 
the  horny  hoof,  is  a  hard,  dry,  brittleness,  and  this  may  arise  in 


160  SCIENTIFIC     HOKSESHOEING. 

a  variety  of  causes.  Hot  fitting  and  clipping,  as  well  as  high 
toes  and  heels  on  shoes  which  prevent  the  frog  from  coming  in 
contact  with  the  ground,  high  heels  on  foot  or  shoe,  flat  feet  and 
long  toes  on  draft  horses,  and  the  paring  away  of  the  frog,  sole, 
bars  and  heel,  whereby  the  foot  becomes  contracted,  are  pro- 
lific sources  for  bringing  the  hoof  into  the  above-mentioned 
state. 

Any  horse  whose  feet  are  thus  placed  is  exposed  to  fracture 
either  on  their  anterior  or  lateral  surfaces.  With  these  condi- 
tions toe  crack  is  produced  by  the  foot  acquiring  an  uneven 
ground  surface,  and  being  thrown  into  an  unnatural  or  forced 
position.  If  the  heel  of  the  foot,  through  ignorance  or  neglect, 
is  suffered  to  grow  to  an  unusual  height,  the  pressure  and  thrust 
of  the  cofiin-bone  against  the  front  wall  will  almost  surely  result 
in  fractunng  it  in  that  region.  A  peculiar  accident  to  which 
horses  are  sometimes  liable,  will  also  produce  the  same  result. 
When  a  horse,  being  shod  with  heel  calkins,  overreaches  him- 
self, that  is,  treads  on  his  hoof  with  another  foot,  and  bruises 
the  coronet  or  crust,  the  crease  thus  made  oftentimes  extends 
itself  until  the  crust  is  split  from  the  coronet  to  the  ground 
surface. 

Toe  cracks  most  generally  attack  the  feet  of  heavy  draft 
horses,  doubtless  owing  to  the  coarse  method  of  applying  their 
shoes,  as  well  as  a  greater  stress  being  placed  upon  their  toes 
than  upon  those  of  other  horses  in  the  exertions  of  drawing 
heavy  loads. 

In  treating  this  disease,  the  first  care  must  be  to  thoroughly 
cleanse  the  foot,  after  which  the  crack  must  be  pared  out 
smoothly  on  either  side,  as  deep  as  the  horny  substance  extends, 
thus  widening  the  crevice  so  as  to  prevent  all  friction  between 
the  separated  parts  of  the  wall.  Pressure  must  be  taken  en- 
tirely off"  the  toe,  and  a  groove,  as  in  the  accompanying  figure, 
should  be  cut  into  the  bottom  of  the  crust  at  the  toe. 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


161 


Having  done  this,  if  the  foot  be  contracted  at  the  heel, 
pare  it  to  a  leveL  The  toe  of  the  foot  is  then  in  turn  to  be 
shortened  and  the  heel  weakened  by  paring  out  the  commissures 
between  the  bars  and  frog  as  much  as,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
farrier,  the  foot  can  safely  bear.  The  pattern  of  shoe  represented 
by  Fig.  35  should  be  used  upon  the  horses  intended  for  draft 
purposes,  the  nails  being  placed  from  the  front  of  the  quarters 
l)ack  toward  the  heel.  Clips  should  be  used  upon  each  side 
of  the  toe  of  the  shoe,  so  that  when  placed  upon  the  foot  on  each 
side  of  the  fracture,  they  will  prevent  the  foot  from  further  ex- 
pansion, by  keeping  the  pressure  off  from  the  toe,  as  shown  in 
Fig.  57.  The  toe  calkin  being  placed  well  back  from  the 
toe,  lightens  the  stress  at  the  point  where  the  greatest  weakness 
exists,  and  allows  of  an  easier  play  to  the  foot  when  in  motion. 
"When  the  split  occurs  in  the  foot  of  a  general  business  horse, 
lower  the  heel  and  shorten  the  toe,  as  much  as  safety  will 
permit,  and  thin  the  heel  of  the  shoe  to  obtain  strong  frog 
pressure,     removing^     the 


removing 


pressure  around  the  toe  of 
the  foot  as  before  directed. 

Quarter  Cracks. — 
Quarter  cracks  are  longi- 
tudinal fissures  in  the 
hoof,  occurring  near  the 
heels.  They  are  gener- 
ally occasioned  by  im- 
proper shoeing,  or  neglect 
of  the  foot ;  or  by  allow- 
ing tne  norse  to  stanci  on  ^h^ed,  and  the  heel  properly  cut  for  the 
hard  floors  for  a  length  of   bearings  at  the  quarter. 

time,  or  in  the  overgrowth  of  the  crust ;  or  when  the  frog,  sole  and 
bars  have  been  pared  away,  and  the  heels  weakened ;  also  by 
burning  the  foot  in  shoeing,  or  springing  the  shoe  off  at  the  heel, 


Fig.  58.     a  side  view  of  the  foot,  with 

CRACK  opposite  THE  WINGS  OF  THE  COFFIN- 
BONE  (A),  PROPERLY  DRESSED  AND  THE  SHOE 
ADJUSTED,     THE    TOE     BEING     ROLLED    OR     BEV- 


162 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


and  throwing  the  weight 
of  the  horse  upon  the 
wings  of  the  coffin-bone 
— the  hoof  becoming  dry 
and  brittle — are  some  of 
the  causes  which  produce 
a  disposition  in  the  hoof 
to  contract,  which,  oc- 
curring at  a  time  when  it 
is  dry  and  inflexible,  re- 
sults in  its  lesion  or  split- 
ting. In  speedy  horses, 
where  the  heels  are  al- 
lowed to  grow  too  high, 
the  crust  loosing  its  elastic 
toughness,  and  becoming 
hard  and  thickened,  there 
is  liability,  by  the  re- 
peated jar  of  alighting  on  his  heels  in  violent  action,  to  burst 
in  the  quarters — the  break  occurring  where  the  stress  falls  heav- 
iest, back  of  the  heel,  or  at  either  or  on  both  sides. 

In  paring  a  foot  of  this  kind,  reduce  the  wall  (especially  at 
the  heels),  as  much  as  the  safety  of  the  foot  will  permit.  The 
next  object  is  to  remove  the  contractile  disposition  in  the  hoof, 
by  rasping  it  at  the  quarters  until  an  appearance  of  serum,  after 
which  open  both  sides  of  the  crack  with  a  drawing  knife,  so 
that  friction  of  the  fractured  parts  may  be  avoided.  Then  rasp 
or  cut  out  the  bottom  of  the  crack  so  that  no  part  of  it  may 
bear  upon  the  shoe.  After  the  wall  has  been  lowered,  should 
the  frog  project  below  the  bottom  of  the  foot,  pare  it  flat.  By 
so  doing,  the  frog  will  be  aided  in  growing  wider,  and  assist 
the  foot  in  expanding.  When  the  cracks  occur  well  back  at  the 
heels,  I  sometimes  find  it  necessary  to  protect  the  weak  parts 
from  the  violence  of  concussion  by  applying  a  bar  shoe.     Com- 


FlG.  59.  A  HOOP  PROPERLY  SHOD  FOR  THE 
CURB  OF  A  QUARTER  CRACK,  THE  SHOE  BEING 
WELL  BEVELED  AT  THE  TOE,  AND  CUT  OFF  IN 
THE  BRANCH,  FORWARD  OF  THE  SEAT  OF  LAME- 
NESS   AT    A. 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC.  163 

mence  thinning  the  shoe  at  the  center  of  the  quarters,  and  carry- 
ing it  oti"  both  toward  the  heels  and  toe,  having  the  shoe  light 
and  the  bar  good  and  wide,  to  obtain  strong  frog  pressure. 
AVhen  the  cracks  occur  opposite  the  wings  of  the  coffin-bone, 
level  the  foot  and  shorten  the  toe  as  much  as  can  be  conveniently 
done.  If  the  crack  occurs  on  one  side  only,  use  the  shoe  shown 
by  Figs.  58  and  59,  allowing  for  strong  frog  pressure.  If  cracks 
happen  on  both  sides,  shoe  with  a  three-quarter  tip.  File  or  rasp 
the  wall  on  both  sides  of  the  crack,  from  coronet  to  the  ground 
surface,  as  thin  as  safety  will  permit.  If  toe  and  heel  calkins 
are  required,  apply  a  four-calkin  shoe,  well  rolled  on  the  ground 
surface.  If  the  foot  be  sore  and  tender,  my  foot  salve  may  be 
used  with  advantage,  by  warming  and  saturating  with  it  a 
pledget  of  cotton,  and  applying  it  to  the  affected  parts,  securing 
same  with  a  bandage.  A  new  growth  of  horn  may  also  be 
stimulated  by  keeping  the  hoof  moist  with  cold-water  bandages 
around  the  coronet.  Remove  the  shoes  everv  three  weeks,  in 
order  to  prevent  an  excessive  growth  of  horn.  By  following 
these  instructions,  this  form  of  disease  may  be  easily  cured  and 
the  horse  regularly  worked. 

Corns. — There  are  several  forms  in  which  these  trouble- 
some growths  manifest  themselves,  though  their  cause  and  loca- 
tion are  generally  the  same. 

The  seat  of  corns  is  always  in  the  sole  of  the  foot,  or  its 
lower  connection  with  the  wall  and  generally  in  the  posterior 
portion  of  the  hoof,  at  or  in  the  angle  made  by  the  wall  in  its 
return  to  form  the  bars. 

Fig.  60,  on  the  following  page,  shows,  however,  that  corns 
do  not  always  come  in  the  heels.  The  letters.  A,  A,  show  three 
hard,  callous  corns  bulging  up  in  the  inner  sole,  at  point  of  frog, 
producing  tenderness  and  lameness  around  the  toe. 

The  primary  cause  of  all  corns  in  the  horse's  foot  is  an  un- 
even ground  surface,  resulting  either  from  the  improper  level- 


164 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  60.      inside    view   of 
HOOF,    showing    effects    of 

DROPPED       SOLE       AND        HARD 
COKNS. 


ing  of  the  foot  by  the  farrier  or  its 
previous  neglect.  Let  the  foot  always 
be  pared  level,  and  the  shoe  properly 
adjusted  to  the  wall,  and  corns  will 
find  no  abiding  place  in  feet  possessed 
of  these  conditions. 

To  determine  where  the  seat  of 
lameness  is,  take  my  foot  testers  (Fig. 
195),  and  clasp  around  the  union  of  sole 
and  wall.  If  the  horse  does  not  flinch 
or  yield,  grasp  the  foot  at  point  of 
frog.  If  he  yields  to  the  pressure,  thin 
the  sole  at  that  point.     On  close  ex- 

A,  A,  Seat  of  hard  callous  •       i-  •^^  n    j       ^        ^        ^^ 

„r.  r.     T3  n   n  ^     A     amiuation  you  will  hnd  a  hard,  callous 

corn.     B,  B,  Coronary  band.  •'  ' 

C,  Dotted  line  from  coronet    substance,    somewhat   resembling    the 

to    gronnd    surface    at   toe,    hard  corn  on   the   human   foot.     Pare 

showing  shallow  wall  due  to 

wasting  away  of  toe  from  hot    the  8ole  at  this  point  quite  thin,  so  as 

fitting  and  clipping.    D,  D,    ^o  allow  it  to  spring  when  the  horse  is 

Internal   fissures.     E,  Ridge 

of  internal  spur.    F,  Front    bearing  his  weight  on   the  foot ;  this 

iace  of  wall.  ^yiH  give  relief  at  once.     Apply  shoe, 

Fig.  35,  to  the  foot,  and  punch  nail  holes  in  shoe  to  meet  the 
conditions  of  the  foot.  It  may  be  advisable  to  poultice  the  bot- 
tom until  soreness  is  removed. 

Hard  corns  are  protuberances  growing  upon  the  inner  sole, 
at  its  junction  with  the  horny  laminae,  and  lie  beneath,  as  well 
as  at  the  side  and  rear  of  the  foot  bone.  They  consist  of  a 
hardened  excrescence  of  the  skin,  which  crowds  in  upon  the 
sensitive  surfaces,  and  thus  become  the  source  of  much  trouble 
and  pain.  The  corn  may  be  generated  by  severe  contusions  upon 
the  inner  sole,  but  it  generally  arises  from  a  lateral  compression 
of  the  horny  hoof  inward  upon  the  sensitive  parts. 

The  vertical  pressure  of  the  horse's  weight  upon  the  foot 
bone  is  oftentimes  so  severe,  and  its  winged  extremities  are 
pressed  down  upon  the  underlying  tissues  of  the  sensitive  sole 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC.  165 

SO  suddenly  and  forcibly  as  to  bruise  them  against  the  horny  sole 
or  shoe  without.  The  bruise  thus  established  develops  the  wet 
or  sappy  corn,  which  consists  of  an  efiusion  of  blood  or  serum 
into  the  pores  of  the  horn,  marking  its  location  by  leaving  a 
stain  upon  the  outer  sole.  "When  the  stain  appears  dark,  and  is 
easily  removed  by  paring  away,  the  corn  is  old  and  working  out, 
but  when  the  stain  appears  bright  and  ruddy,  by  penetrating 
further  into  the  horn,  the  corn  is  new  and  needs  attention. 
These  corns  may  be  aggravated  by  additional  injury,  and  ter- 
minate in  a  more  serious  form,  known  as  the  suppurative,  in 
which  case  the  sensitiveness  will  be  greatly  increased,  causing 
intense  pain,  and,  as  a  necessary  consequence,  acute  lameness,  or 
finally  resulting  in  laying  the  foundation  for  a  quittor. 

In  preparing  the  foot  for  the  shoe,  if  the  horn  should  ex- 
liibit  signs  of  moisture  or  discoloration,  caused  by  the  exudation 
of  a  sappy  or  wet  corn,  open  the  center  of  the  part  indicated, 
and  gradually  remove  the  sole,  until  the  foreign  matter  is  re- 
leased. The  foot  must  next  be  dressed  down  until  it  acquires  a 
perfectly  level  basis.  For  draft  horses,  let  the  toe  be  shortened 
and  the  heels  lowered ;  appl}'  a  shoe  with  toe  and  heel  calkins, 
the  toe  calkin  to  be  set  well  back  from  the  front  of  the  shoe,  as 
seen  in  Fig.  35,  and  relieve  the  pressure  at  the  heels.  For  horses 
of  general  business  and  road  purposes,  pare  the  foot  as  low  down 
as  safety  will  admit,  shorten  the  toe,  and  cut  the  shoe  off'  on  the 
side  in  front  of  the  corn,  as  seen  in  Figs.  58  and  59  ;  but  if  the 
corn  be  established  on  both  sides,  shoe  with  a  three-quarter  tip, 
in  order  that  the  shoe  may  not  come  as  far  back  as  the  affected 
})arts.  In  some  cases  it  may  be  advisable  to  use  a  four-calkin  or 
bar  shoe,  as  determined  by  the  judgment  of  the  farrier. 

Navicular  Disease. — The  navicular  bone,  from  its  position 
in  the  center  of  the  foot,  and  the  important  protection  which  it 
receives  from  the  surrounding  surfaces,  is  seldom  visited  by  dis- 
ease or  disturbed  by  accident.     It  is  protected  at  either  end  by 


166 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


the  wall  and  wiugs  and 
cartilasres  of  the  coffin- 
bone  and  on  its  upper 
face  by  the  lower  pas- 
tern bone,  and  beneath, 
where  lies  the  greatest 
possibility  of  accident, 
it  is  guarded  by  the 
flexor  perforans,  the 
"A    LiiLT^^^  A     plantar     cushion     and 

Fig.  61.    hoop,  showing  the  external  char-    horny  frog.     (See    Fig. 

ACTER   OF    NAVICULAR   DISEASE.  r  -i  i   ,  ■,  , 

5,  and  read  the  anatomy 

A,  A,  Base  or  ground  line  over  the  center  of  ^^^^le  parts  mentioned.) 
the  quarters.     B,  B,  Upper  edge  of  the  coronet. 

C,  C,  Falling  in  of  the  hoof  opposite  the  seat  In  this  disease  the 

of  disease.     The  white  line  across  the  hoof  indi-  £g-(j^or     perforans       be- 
cates  the  superfluous  growth  of  the  hoof,  and 

the  extent  to  which  it  should  be  reduced.  comes  ulcerated  where 

it  slides  over  the  under 
face  of  the  navicular  bone  (at  times  involving  the  sesamoid 
sheath  in  the  process),  and  the  severe  pain  experienced  is  from. 
its  play  over  the  rough,  diseased  portion  of  that  bone.  This 
disease  is  sometimes  inherited,  but  once  contracted,  is  incurable  ; 
a  great  deal  may  be  done,  however,  to  ease  the  animal.  Two- 
thirds  of  the  cases  of  this  malady,  I  believe, 
are  caused  by  improperly  dressing  the  foot, 
cutting  the  frog  away,  weakened  the  bars, 
and  thinning  the  sole ;  and  then  driving  Fig.  62.  diseased  na- 
over  uneven  roads,  provoking  inflammation    "^'^cular  bone,   taken 

FROM     THE     HOOF     (FiG. 

in  the  tissues  and  membranes  of  the  foot,    g^)   one-half  size. 
which    finally    communicates    itself    to  the       a,  Diseased  portion 
bones  and  their  attachments  with  one  an-    ^^  bone. 
other. 

The  above  (Fig.  61)  represents  the  back  view  of  a  hoof 
showing  the  efiects  of  navicular  disease  by  the  shrinkage  of  the 
outer  wall  upon  the  living  parts  of  the  foot,  immediately  below 


I 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


16: 


the  coronary  band,  crowding  the  cartilages  in  and  stopping  in 
a  measure  the  circulation.  The  foot  become  dry,  hard  and 
feverish  and  the  wall  thick  and  deep.  The  white  line  across  the 
heel  shows  where  the  foot  should  be  reduced  around  the  base. 
When  the  disease  becomes  well  established,  the  horse  manifests 
it  by  continual  restlessness,  standing  on  one  foot  and  holding 
the  other  backward,  with  heel  elevated  and  toe  touching  the 
ground,  or  by  twisting  the  toe  out  and  resting  the  heels  of  one 
on  the  coronet  of  the  other ;  and  by  constantly  shifting  and 
■flexing  the  fetlock  and  knee. 

Not  one-third  of  the  cases  of  navicular  disease  which  have 
come  under  my  observation  are  chronic  ;  and,  indeed,  many  cases 
which  are  thus  wrongly  termed  should  be  considered  only  nav- 
icular joint  lameness,  which  if  allowed  to  run  might  become 
chronic,  but  are  curable  if  taken  in  time. 

In  dressing  the  foot 
for  the  shoe,  proceed  as 
per  Fig.  23,  then,  after 
properly  leveling  and  bal- 
ancing it,  open  up  the 
commissures  and  pare  out 
the  sole  within  safe  limits. 
If  the  frog  projects  above 
the  heel,  pare  it  flat  on  the 
ground  tread.  In  most 
instances  the  bar  shoe 
shown  in  Fig.  63  can  be 
used  with  satisfactorv  re- 
suits.  It  can  be  easily  yig.  63.  bar  shoe  for  navicular  disease. 
made,  being  of  the  same  a,  Plate  welded  on  the  shoe  over  the  seat 
thickness  in  both  branches    ^^  navicular  disease.    B,  Roll  or  bevel  at  the 

toe. 
from  the  heel  to  the  cen- 
ter  of  the  quarters ;    in  front  of  the  quarters  it  is   gradually 
thinned,  and  at  the  toe  it  is  rolled  or  beveled,  as  indicated  at  B. 


168  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

After  the  shoe  is  prepared  for  the  foot,  a  thin  plate  of  steel 
must  be  welded  on  level  with  the  face  of  the  shoe,  as  represented 
at  A.  The  plate  being  placed  directly  over  the  seat  of  the  dis- 
ease, will  protect  the  affected  parts  from  any  evil  results  of  se- 
vere concussion.  The  bar  thus  placed  must  not  bear  upon  the 
frog,  as  frog  pressure  would  have  a  tendency  to  aggravate  the 
disease.  An  open  space  of  considerable  depth  must  be  suffered 
to  exist  between  the  plate  and  the  foot,  sufficient  to  permit  the 
removal  of  dirt,  etc.,  which  may  secrete  itself. 

Rivet  a  firm  piece  of  leather  under  the  heels  of  the  shoe  to 
cover  the  bottom  of  the  foot,  which  fill  with  my  foot  salve  as 
prescribed.  Have  heel  calks  welded  on  both  side  branches  of 
the  shoe,  to  be  about  1|  inches  long,  tapering  the  shoe  gradually 
from  heel  to  toe  and  of  good  height  at  heel  point,  say  |  inch. 

Elevating  the  heels  will  lessen  the  friction  on  the  flexor  ten- 
don in  its  play  over  the  diseased  bone,  and  the  action  of  the  foot 
joint  will  be  firmer.  After  nailing  on  the  shoe  stand  the  horse 
in  soaking  tubs  of  warm  water,  two  hours  a  day  for  a  week  or 
ten  days,  together  with  warm  water  bandages  around  the  coro-  | 

net.     By  having  the  shoe  rolled  on  the  ground  surface  in  front  I 

of  the  quarters  to  the  toe,  the  horse  will  get  over  the  toe  with 
the  least  possible  strain  on  the  affected  parts.  The  shoe  should 
extend  as  well  back  at  the  heel  as  can  be  safely  worn,  and  by 
this  manner  of  shoeing  much  relief  will  be  afforded.  Reset  the 
shoes  every  two  or  three  weeks  to  keep  down  the  surplus  growth 
on  ground  tread. 

Raised  Coronet. — This  disease  implies  a  violent  alteration 
of  the  coronary  band  at  the  heel ;  consequent  upon  either  side 
of  the  heel  being  uneven  on  the  ground  surface.  This  position 
of  the  hoof  is  fully  shown  in  Fig.  64,  on  the  opposite  page. 

This  complaint  arises  from  mismanagement  of  the  foot,  and 
its  continuance  is  owing  to  bad  shoeing.  In  slight  cases,  when 
a  horse  is  let  run  at  ^rass  without  shoes,  it  will  generally  be 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


169 


found  sufficient  to  ef- 
fect a  cure.  In  obsti- 
nate cases,  however, 
or  when  the  horse 
travels  or  works  regu- 
larly, recourse  must  be 
had   to   a  careful  plan 

tor    dressing'    the    toot    Yig.  64.    back  ground  surface  view  of  raised 
and  shoeing  it.  coronet. 

(In  dressing  foot,  see  Diagram  No.  41,  p.  145.) 

In    such    cases,    in  ^^  ^^  i^^^^  ^f   ground  surface.    B,  Base  of 

order  to  restore  the  foot  raised  heel.     C,  C,  Difference  in  height  of  the 

,    ,       1^1  sides  of    the    heel    indicated  at    the    coronet, 

to    Its    natural    healthy  d,  Inner  spur  twisted  and  deformed. 

state,  the  mode  of  ob- 
taining levels  I  have  pointed  out  must  be  attended  to,  see  Fig. 
23.  The  higher  part  of  the  heel  is  then  to  be  reduced,  but  the 
strength  of  the  foot  on  this  side  must  otherwise  be  carefully 
preserved,  that  it  may  be  sufficiently  firm  to  make  up  as  much 
as  possible  for  the  deficiency  of  the  full  heel.  On  the  other 
hand  the  raised  or  twisted  side  must  be  weakened  as  much  as 
can  be  conveniently  done,  so  that  it  will  readily  yield  to  the 
pressure  of  the  animal's  weight ;  the  sole  and  bars  being  carefully 
thinned,  gradually  lessening  the  paring  as  the  toe  is  approached. 
The  shoe  which  is  applied  should  be  cut  ofif  on  the  side  where 
the  crust  turns  up,  that  that  part  may  not  be  exposed  to  any 
pressure  from  it. 

If  the  shoe  is  applied  in  the  manner  indicated,  the  nails 
being  placed  in  the  quarter  of  the  high  side,  and  stopped  at 
the  toe  of  the  raised  side,  the  crust  on  that  side,  it  is  observed, 
will  be  kept  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  ground. 

The  flexibility  which  the  horn  possesses,  therefore,  allowing 
it  to  yield  in  a  small  degree  whenever  the  horse's  weight  is 
thrown  upon  it,  gradually  restores  the  foot  to  its  natural  con- 
dition without  the  liability  of  further  pain.  Whenever  the 
hoof  appears  to  be  too  dry  and  hard,  or  to  have  lost  its  pliancy,. 


170 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


it  may  be  kept  moist  by  applying  several  folds  of  flannel  round 
the  coronet  constantly  wetted  with  warm  water,  also  by  having  the 
horse  stand  in  warm  soaking  tubs  for  two  or  three  hours  a  day. 

While  Fig.  65  is 
introduced  in  order  to 
illustrate  the  extent  to 
which  disease  may  ef- 
fect a  foot  through  an}^ 
mismanagement,  it  is 
not  proposed  to  suggest 
any  cure  for  such  an 
affection  ;  but  rather  to 
state  that,  by  careful 
attention  to  the  prepa- 
ration and  shoeing  of  a 
foot,  such  diseases  mav 
be   avoided.     It  is  the 

moral  of   the  old   but 
Fig.  65.     external  appearance  of  hoof  de-    ^^^^    ^^  ^^^^   ,,  ^^^ 

formed   by  fedit1.s,   and   overgrown   by   neg- 
LECT, ounce  of  prevention   is 

A,  A,  Dotted  line,  to  which  surplus  growth  at     worth  a  pound  of  cure." 
toe  should  be  removed.     B,  B,  Dotted  line,  to  jf-^.    qq    on  the  OD- 

posite  page,  is  a  section 
of  the  preceding  figure, 
through  axis  of  leg  from  front  to  rear.  The  unnatural  position 
of  the  foot  is  noticeable  ;  the  surplus  growth  at  the  heel  has 
raised  it  out  of  position,  and  the  decayed  coffin-bone  is  evidently 
due  to  peditic  degeneration.  This  is  regarded  as  the  very  best 
illustration  of  this  disease  in  print,  and  speaks  for  itself. 


which  surplus  growth   at  lieel   should   be   re 
moved.     C,  Wall  of  foot 


Dished- wheel  Foot. — Fig.  67,  page  172.  To  shoe  a 
foot  of  this  kind  file  or  rasp  the  surplus  growth  on  the 
dished  side  from  B  to  C,  C,  and  the  surplus  growth  at 
base  from   D   to  D.     Open    up    the    curled    heel    overlapping 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


171 


the  cleft  of  the  frog 
from  E  to  E,  as  deeply 
as  the  horn  extends. 
In  fitting  the  shoe,  the 
weight  must  be  equal- 
ized through  the  axis 
of  the  leg  and  foot 
when  placed  on  the 
ground,  as  shown  in 
Fig.  26. 

If  toe  and  heel 
calkins  are  required, 
use  shoe,  Fig.  73,  let- 
ting the  toe  calkin  ex- 

Fig.  66.      median   section   of  same   foot  as 
tenci    over   tne    curled    p^^^   (^j^^  showing  the  DESTRrcTivE  effects  op 
line.     The    shoe    must    peditis  in  the  disorganization  of  the  living 
-      „  .  ,  ,,  structures. 

gradually    widen    from       __        ,x,t.t^...  ji-       ^       vu 

°  ''  B,  B,  and  B,  B,  Dotted  lines  to  which  sur- 

quarters    to    heel   so   as  plus  growth  at  toe  and  heel  should  be  removed, 

to    cover    the    heel     up  ^'  I^emains  of  imperfect  horn.     D,  Fragment 

of  dead   coffin-bone.      E,  Navicular  bone.     F, 

close    to    side    of    frog.  Lower   pastern.     G,  Upper  pastern.     H,  I,  J, 

Place  side    heel    calkin  Withered  tendons.    K,  Slight  insertion  of  flexor 

•         T  perforans.     L,  Plantar   cushion.      M,   Bulb   of 

on     as    shown    m     dia-  horny  frog.     N,  Base  of  hoof  on  opposite  side. 

gram ;    the    projecting 

toe  calk  and  side  heel   calkin  will   serve  to  widen  the  ground 

tread  on  the  dished  side. 

The  shoe  must  be  beveled  from  the  foot  surface  on  the  angle 
of  the  foot  so  as  to  assist  in  gaining  ground  tread.  Forge  a 
clip  on  the  quarter  of  shoe  on  curled  side ;  the  clip  will  hold  the 
shoe  firmly  to  the  side  of  the  foot,  and  as  the  foot  grows,  the 
shoe  will  carry  the  foot  to  the  curled  side. 

If  flat  shoes  are  required,  use  non-paddling  shoe.  Fig.  124. 

The  shoe  upon  curled  side  should  have  the  nail  holes  punched 

outwardly,  so  as  to  take  a  short,  thick  hold,  to  avoid  cramping 

the  foot.     Have  the  shoes  reset  every  two  or  three  weeks.     If 
12 


172 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


the  above  instructions  are 
carried  out,  the  foot  will  be- 
come straight  and  natural. 
The  dished  foot  shown 
\^  on  page  173  is  a  result  of 
overgrowth  of  the  hoof. 
The  toe  is  lengthened  and 
the  heel  raised  in  such  a  way 
as  to  throw  the  foot  out  of 
its  natural  angle.  This  pro- 
duces an  unnatural  pressure 


thus  preventing  the  action 
of  the  secretive  powers ; 
more  or  less  inflammation 
sets  in  and  as  the  internal 


Fig.  67.  back  view  op  distorted  dished 
quarter  and  curled  heel. 
A,  A,  Center  line  through  frog.  B,  B, 
Angle  of  dished  quarter,  as  the  foot  stands, 
55  degrees.  C  to  C,  Line  denoting  por- 
tion of  dished  quarter  to  be  filed  or  rasped 
off  on  one  side,  and  the  extension  of  shoe 
on  the  other  side  to  give  proper  width  of    at   the    toe,   on    the    ground 

ground  tread,  and  make  angles  on  both  surface,  and  at  the  coronet, 
i.  sides  the  same — 75  degrees.  D,  D,  Ground 
line  to  which  base  of  hoof  is  to  be  reduced. 
E,  E,  Curled  heel  overlapping  center  of 
cleft  of  frog,  also  showing  where  heel  is 
to  be  opened  with  the  farrier's  knife  as 
deeply  as  the  curled  horn  extends.  F, 
Horny  sole  deeply  concaved.    G,C,  Shows  .  ,  .-,  . 

distance  inner  quarter  is  curled  under  cen-    P^^^  ^^'^^^es  away  the  outer 
ter  of  foot  on  ground-bearing  surface.  wall  conforms  to  the  inside. 

It  has  been  observed  that  if 
the  foot  be  allowed  to  remain  in  this  condition  for  any  length 
of  time,  the  upper  pastern  becomes  enlarged,  which  to  me  is 
conclusive  proof  that  it  has  been  overtaxed. 

Horses  accustomed  to  slow  work  do  not  sufler  from  this  as 
much  as  road  and  track  horses.  When  the  heel  and  toe  are  al- 
lowed to  grow  to  an  unusual  height  and  length,  the  angle  of  the 
heel  with  the  ground  line  is  carried  forward  under  the  leg,  thus 
causing  the  weight  to  be  thrown  out  of  the  axis  of  the  leg  and 
foot ;  and  when  the  horse  is  at  full  speed,  the  height  of  his  heels 
prevents  the  natural  expansion  of  the  foot,  from  heel  to  quarters, 
at  each  foot  fall,  and  he  lands  his  foot  upon  the  ground  with  a 
dead  jar,  like  that  experienced  by  a  man  walking  on  a  wooden 
leg.  This  jar  will  not  be  transmitted  through  the  axis  of  the 
leg,  pasterns  and  foot  bone,  as  would  be  the  case  if  the  foot  were 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


173 


on  its  proper  angle,  but  up  into  the 
back  tendons,  thus  causing  their 
overtaxation. 

If  the  hoof  is  pared  in  accord- 
ance with  the  indications  given 
(see  Fig.  68),  it  will  stand  upon 
its  proper  angle.  All  dished  feet 
are  thin  at  the  point  of  the  frog, 
where  great  care  must  be  taken  in 
dressinor  the  foot  to  leave  sufficient 
sole,  and  in  shoeing  observe  the 
necessity  of   keeping   pressure    off' 

from  front  part  of  foot.  ,,      „„ 

^  Fig.  68.    view  of  dished  front 

FOOT. 

Wheeled  Foot.-Fig.   69,  on        ^^  ^^  j^^^.^^  y^^^  ,^  ^^.^^ 

the  following  page,  is  what  is  termed     surplus  growth  of  wall  should 

•iiii-i^4.i-  1  be  removed.     B,  Dotted  line  to 

a  wheeled   hmd   foot,    having   low        ...  ,       '      ,,      , 

°  which  surplus  growth  of  wall 

heels  and  high,  deep  toe,  the  reverse     at  toe  should  be  removed, 
of  the  defect  in  Fig.   68.     The  un- 
natural  growth    is  due  to  mismanagement  of  the  foot.     The 
weight  which  should  pass  through  the  axis  of  the  leg  drops 
back  of  the  heel,  bearing  upon  the  back  tendons  and  greatly 
overtaxing  them. 

When  the  foot,  in  this  case,  is  lifted  over  the  toe,  the 
weight,  which  bears  upon  the  arch  of  the  coffin-bone,  raises 
the  point  of  it  by  the  overgrowth  of  the  toe,  and  draws  the  cof- 
fin-bone back  from  the  front  part  of  the  foot,  thus  allowing  the 
front  wall  to  thicken  up  as  seen  in  the  figure. 

Common  sense  declares  against  permitting  a  foot  to  re- 
main in  this  condition,  when  it  can  be  placed  upon  its  natural 
base. 

A  reference  to  Fig.  69  shows  where  the  foot  ought  to  be 
pared  in  order  to  bring  the  toe  to  the  ground,  and  allow  the 
foot  to  fall  more  directly  under  the  leg.     This  will  relieve  the 


174 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.   69.     wheeled    hind  foot, 
showing  long  toe  and  low  heel. 


back  tendon  from  overtaxation  and 
assist  nature  in  bringing  the  foot 
upon  its  natural  angles.  Pare  the 
base  of  the  hoof  as  shown  to  dotted 
line,  H.  File  or  rasp  the  front  wall 
to  dotted  line,  B.  After  the  foot  is 
dressed,  apply  shoe  (Fig.  115)  with 
heels  extended  well  back  of  foot, 
and  their  height  varying  with  the 
emergencies.  If  the  shoe  is  proper- 
erly  adjusted,  the  best  results  may 
be  expected. 


B,  H,  Lines  to  which  surplus 
growth  should  be  removed  at 
front  of  foot  and  from  toe  to  heel. 
A,  Unnatural  thickness  of  wall 
in  front. 


Defective  Ankle  Joints  or 
Knuckling. — The  catalogue  of  dis- 
eases, defects  and  deformities  in  the 
feet  of  horses  has  bv  this  time,  the 
reader  will  perceive,  grown  to  a  considerable  length.  In  tracing 
them  to  their  small  beginnings,  we  find  a  striking  instance  of 
the  serious  results  springing  from  the  *'  un- 
considered trifles  "  of  shoeing.  The  weak- 
ness peculiar  to  some  horses  in  their  hind 
ankle  joints,  next  suggests  itself.  This 
troublesome  afl'ection,  in  many  cases,  arises 
from  the  overtaxation  of  the  fetlock  during 
colthood,  and,  again,  from  hoofs  or  shoes 
having  high  toes  and  heels,  or  from  heredi- 
tary influences.  This  defect  is  found  to  be 
more  prevalent  among  speedy  horses  having 
long  pasterns  than  those  of  any  other  kind. 
Short  upright  pasterns  in  conjunction  with 
high  heels  and  short  toes ;  also  improper 
shoeing — allowing  the  toes  to  grow  too  long 
and    low    heels — will    render    speed    horses 


Fig.  70.  defective  an- 
kle JOINT. 


A,  A,  Line  to  whicli 
base  of  lioof  eliould  be 
reduced. 


LAMENESS   AND   DISEASES,    ETC. 


175 


liable  to  this  troublesome  ailment.  Hard  pulling  will  also  de- 
velop it  and  no  horses  are  exempt  from  it  where  they  are  in  a 
position  to  overtax  the  muscles  and  ligaments  of  the  pastern 
and  fetlock  joints.  Certain  conformations  of  the  foot  or  ankle 
region,  together  with  improper  modes  of  shoeing,  as  indicated, 
are  always  classed  with  the  predisposing  causes  of  this  defec- 
tion. The  weakness  is  generally  manifested  when  the  horse  is 
'traveling  at  a  slow  gait  and  renders  him  less  sure  footed,  though 
not  always  attended  by  lameness.  When  driven  on  the  level 
the  upper  pastern  occasionally  bulges  forward,  and  going  down 
hill  the  horse  knuckles  at  every  step,  but  the  driver  will  observe 
that  when  going  up  hill  the  horse  never  knuckles.  I  call  par- 
ticular attention  to  these 
points,  as  the  style  of  shoe  g 
proposed  for  the  relief  of 
knuckling  is  on  the  order 
of  up-hill  movement. 

It  will  most  generally 
be  found  that  unevenly- 
grown  and  unbalanced 
feet  are  present  in  condi- 
tions where  knuckling  ex- 
ists, and  in  preparing  the  3 
foot  for  the  reception  of 
the  shoe,  the  surplus 
growth  should  be  removed    Fig.  71.    hind  foot  shoe  to  prevent  and 

1  •         T^-  I7A     „^^  CURE   KNUCKLING. 

as  shown  m  -b  ig.  70,  and 

,  The  straight  bar  indicates  the  shape  of  shoe 
the  foot  leveled  and  bal-  g^pn  from  the  side.  A,  Point  from  which 
anced  as  per  Fio".  23.     In    f^^^oe  should   be   tapered  to  toe  and  heel. 

-  B,  B,  Sole-bearing  line.     C,  C,  C,  Ground 

this  way  the  toe  will  be    jj^^ 

foreshortened,    the    heels 

lowered,  the  ground  tread  lengthened,  strong  frog  pressure  ob- 
tained, and  the  fetlock  or  weak  joints  thus  be  made  to  rest  more 
easily  in  a  normal  position.     Fig.  71  is  the  shoe  recommended 


176 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEIXG. 


\  . 


^i 


w 


for  the  cure  of  this  disease,  and  may  be  easily  made.     A,  A,  on 
face  indicates  a  point  from  the  toe  about  one-third  of  its  length 
(or  two-thirds  from  the  heels),  from  which  the  ground  surface 
I  ii'i' '  of  the  shoe  is  to  be  drawn  forward  to 

^  }  toe  at  B,  and  back  to  heels  at  C,  C, 

[  leaving  the  high  point  at  A,  as  shown 

in  side  bur — usually  three-eighths  of  an 
inch,  to  vary  with  the  extent  of 
knuckling.  The  shoe  should  be  made 
of  steel,  quite  thin  and  light,  that  the 
horse  may  have  his  foot  as  near  the 
ground  as  possible,  as  well  as  to  receive 
the  benefit  of  strong  frog  pressure. 
The  effect  of  a  shoe  with  such  a  ground- 
bearing  surface  will  be  to  place  the 
horse  upon  an  incline,  as  though  as- 
cending a  hill,  and,  when  in  a  stand- 
ing position,  the  upper  pastern  will 
keep  its  place  in  its  articulation  with 
the  fetlock  joint,  and  when  in  motion, 
the  foot  will  be  able  to  slide  over  with- 
out straining  the  parts  affected. 


Knee  Sprung. — Many  indefinite 
causes  have  been  assigned  by  various 
writers  as  the  originating  source  of  the 
condition  known  as  "knee  sprung;" 
but,  it  generally  appears  as  if  the  liga- 
ments and  bandasfes  of  the  knee  had 

become  strained  and  enlarged,  in  which 
Fig.  72.      position     of    the       ,         .^       r        ^  j    i       i       • 

LEG  WHEN  KNEE  SPRUNG.      ^Iso   thc  frout   aud  back  sinews  may 

A,  A,  Angle  of  this  foot  45  become   involved   by  overexertion   of 

degrees.  B,  B,  Line  to  which  ^^^^^^         ^^^    ^^^len   the   bones    of  the 
hoof  should  be  reduced  to  its 

normal  basis.  knee-joint   being   no    longer   properly 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC.  177 

retained   in   their  places,  become    bulged    or  sprung    forward. 
{Compare  Fig.  72  with  perfect  knee  of  skeleton,  Fig.  2.) 

In  many  cases  the  formation  of  the  animal,  such  as  undue 
length  of  limb  from  the  knee  to  fetlock,  is  a  natural  predisposi- 
tion to  weakness  at  knee ;  also,  abnormal  presentation  at  time 
of  foaling  where  knees  are  doubled  under  the  body,  may  produce 
a  similar  tendency. 

Young  horses  subjected  to  an  excess  of  hard  pulling  before 
they  are  seasoned  or  matured,  are  most  liable  to  iujure  their 
knees  in  this  manner.  Care  should  therefore  be  taken  in  work- 
ing: them  that  their  limbs  are  not  overtasked  while  under  the 
age  of  seven  years. 

Horses  employed  in  constant  "  up-hill "'  work,  where  the 
stress  upon  the  knee  is  continued  and  severe,  or  in  sufi'ering 
them  to  stand  in  stalls  where  the  slope  is  considerable  and  the 
floor  hard,  necessitating  exertion  in  the  muscles  of  the  leg,  and 
keeping  the  ligaments  constantly  in  a  tense  state,  will  expose 
them  to  a  deformity  in  their  knees,  by  their  leaning  or  bowing 
out  in  consequence  of  the  ligaments  and  tendons  becoming 
weakened.  When  the  proper  angle  of  the  foot  is  destroyed,  as 
is  most  usually  produced  by  improper  shoeing,  such  as  having 
high  toes  and  low  heels,  causing  the  lower  pastern  to  bear  down 
upon  the  navicular  bone,  which  in  turn  presses  back  against  the 
flexor  perforans,  will  produce  an  over  distension  of  the  muscles ; 
and  similarly,  sore  or  bruised  heels  will  cause  a  constant  leaning 
forward  on  the  knees  to  relieve  the  pressure  on  other  parts,  and 
thus  produce  this  defect  ;  or,  should  the  foot  even  be  properly 
pared,  and  the  shoe  then  applied  be  thick  at  the  toe — the  heels 
of  the  hoof  being  low — the  efiect  of  always  ascending  would  be 
the  same,  and  result  in  the  malformation  of  which  we  treat ;  or, 
if  the  shoe  is  too  short — indeed,  any  mode  of  shoeing  that  will 
unbalance  the  foot,  may  cause  the  knees  to  spring  forward. 

"When  the  disease  becomes  chronic,  and  the  ligaments  and 
tendons  so  much  relaxed  as  to  be  no  longer  able  to  respond  to 


178  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

the  treatment,  a  radical  cure  may  be  impossible  ;  but,  if  taken 
in  time,  and  the  foot  properly  dressed  and  shod,  the  disease  can 
be  cured. 

In  dressing  the  foot  for  this  disease,  pare  it  level  and  lower 
it  to  its  proper  angle,  bearing  in  mind  the  directions  given  in 
Chapter  IV. 

The  style  of  shoe  which  I  have  found  to  be  best  adapted 
for  the  relief  of  sore  tendons  and  knee  spring,  are  the  scoop-toe 
rolling  motion.  Fig.  126,  rolling-motion  shoe.  Fig.  125,  and  four- 
caJkin  shoe,  Fig.  101 ;  having  the  shoe  adapted  to  extend  as  far 
back  at  the  heels  as  the  safety  of  the  foot  may  seem  to  require. 
This  extension  and  elevation  of  the  heels  usually  aftbrds  speedy 
relief.  Either  of  these  patterns,  by  shortening  the  ground  sur- 
face at  the  toe  and  strengthening  the  knee  when  the  horse  is 
moving  forward,  will  relieve  the  strain  and  enable  him  the  bet- 
ter to  pass  his  feet  over  uneven  ground  surface,  w^hich  is  some- 
times the  cause  of  twisting  and  straining  the  already  injured 
parts.  Another  means  of  furthering  a  cure  is  to  feed  the  horse 
from  the  ground.  This  will  have  the  effect  of  throwing  the  ani- 
mal's weight  more  directly  over  his  limbs,  and  thus  assist  nature, 
in  a  manner,  to  retrench  the  enlargement  in  the  knee  bandages. 

Curb. — This  consists  of  an  inflammation  and  swelling  of 
the  posterior  portion  of  the  tendon  passing  over  the  calcis,  or 
hock  bone  (p.  36,  Fig.  2-39).  This  is  often  accompanied  with 
considerable  heat,  pain  and  lameness.  The  cause  is  an  accident 
to  ligaments  at  and  around  the  hock,  and  is  the  result  of  hard 
pulling,  prancing  or  leaping,  or  galloping  over  uneven  ground 
surfaces,  etc.  The  peculiar  conformation  of  some  horses  ren- 
ders them  more  likely  to  be  attended  by  curbs  than  others  ;  but 
as  it  is  ahvays  the  result  of  over-taxation,  and  does  not  admit 
of  much  labor  in  the  affected  part,  it  should  be  remedied  as 
soon  as  possible.  Fig.  73  shows  an  extreme  case  of  curb,  such 
as  may  come  from  the  hind  feet  and  legs  standing  too  far  under 


LAMENESS    AXD    DISEASES,    ETC. 


179 


Fig.  73.     hind  leg,  showing  curb. 


ElG.  74.       LEG  WITH   CURB   BAN- 
DAGES  AND    FOOT    SHOD. 


the  body  (see  p.  200,  Fig.  94),  the  result  of  a  bent  or  cycle  hind 
leg  formation.  In  these  cases  use  four  calkin  shoe  (p.  213,  Fig. 
101).  The  heel  calkins  should  stand  higer  than  the  toe  cal- 
kins, thus  placing  the  foot  further  back,  and  the  changed  posi- 
tion, together  with  the  elevated  heel,  will  support  the  leg  and 
relieve  the  strain  upon  the  affected  weak  joint.  Bathe  the 
curb  frequently  in  warm  water,  almost  hot,  and  bandage  in  four 
or  five  thicknesses  (Fig.  74).  After  the  inflammation  has  sub- 
sided, apply  liniment   described   in    Recipe  3,  page  294,  for  a 


180  SCIENTIFIC    HOKSESHOEING. 

week  or  more.     If  any  callous  remains,  paint  the   surface  with 
iodine  until  it  disappears. 

Bone  Spavin. — This  disease  takes  its  name  from  an  en- 
laro;ement  of  the  inner  side  of  the  hock,  creating  a  bony  ex- 
crescence about  the  hock  joint  and  resulting  oftentimes  in 
lameness.  It  can  not  be  treated  with  uniform  success,  for  it 
often  proves  very  obstinate  and  not  infrequently  incurable. 

I  would  invariably  recommend  that  the  affected  horse,  after 
being  shod,  be  'placed  under  a  most   skillful    and    experienced 
veterinary  surgeon.     In   many  instances,  special  shoeing  alone 
will  relieve  the  trouble.     The  shoe  I  have  found  to  be  the  most 
satisfactory  and  disposed  to  give  ease  and  comfort  is  the  four- 
calked  hind-foot  shoe   (p.  249,  Fig.  145).     It  is  obvious  there 
can  not  be  two   cases  of  spavin  similar.     A   four-calked  hind- 
foot    shoe,  therefore,  designed    for   any    one    case,  will    not  be 
effective  in  another.     Every  case  must  have  its  own  diagnosis, 
and  thereupon  the  paring  of  the  foot  and  the  making  and  set- 
tino-  of  the  shoe  must  be  determined,  bearing  in   mind  always 
the  balancing  of  the  foot.     But,  as  I  say  above,  the   shoe  most 
satisfactory  all  around,  to  give   ease  and  comfort,  is  the  four- 
calked  hind-foot  shoe,  as  above  described,  with  the  toe  and  heel 
calkins  placed  to  suit  the  case  in  hand.    I  very  often  have  found 
it  advisable  to  place  the  inside  toe  calkin  back  from  the  center 
of  toe  of  shoe  fully  three-quarters  to  an  inch  farther  than  the 
outside  toe  calkin,  making  the  inside  toe  calkin  one-quarter  of 
an  inch  lower  and  the  outside  toe  calkin  one-quarter  of  an  inch 
higher.     Bevel  the  front  toe  calkins  as  shown  in  diagram  above 
mentioned,  so  as  to  allow  the  toe  to  roll  over  more  easily  in  the 
forward  movement.     Having  the  outside. heel  and  toe  calkins 
higher  than  the  inside  heel  and  toe  calkins  will  cause  the  weight 
to  fall  upon  the   outside  of  the  hock  joint,  and  in  many  cases 
the  result  will  be  surprising. 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


181 


Bog  Spavin. — Is  a  dropsical  condition  of  the  joint,  which 
becomes  so  either  from  a  loss  of  power  in  the  absorbent  vessels, 
■or  an  increased  action  of  the  sacs  which  secrete  the  joint  oil. 
Perhaps  both  these  causes  may  concur  in  producing  the  disease, 
the  more  remote  cause  of  which  is  hard  work — that  is,  too  great 
or  too  long  continued  action  of  the  joint. 

The  bog  spavin  does  not  so  often  occasion  lameness  as  the 
other,  except  when  a  horse  is  worked  hard,  which  generally 
causes  a  temporary  lameness,  removable  by  rest ;  but  it  does 
not  always  admit  of  a  radical  cure,  for  though  blistering  is  of 
likely  service,  the  trouble  generally  returns  with  any  consider- 
able exertion.  Much  may  be  done,  however,  to  assist  the  horse 
in  his  movements,  by  properly  balancing  the  foot  and  suitably 
adjusting  the  four-calked  hind-foot  shoe  above  described,  shown 
in  Fig.  145,  page  249. 

Canker. — This  is  a  local  disease  most  frequently  arising 
from  the  thrush,  and  attacking  the  front  feet.  It  consists  at 
first  of  an  ulcerous  sore  in  cleft  of  frog,  when  the  inflammation 
of  the  parts  is  severe  and  they  are  quite  tender — often  making 
the  horse  quite  lame.  The  parts  afl:ected  become  very  soft  and 
rotten,  with  a  discharge  of  purulent  matter.  By  early  attention 
and  proper  treatment  the  disease  is  easily  cured,  but  if  it  con- 
tinues its  ravages  it  not  infrequently  destroys  the  horny  frog 
and  often  extends  to  the  sensitive  sole  and  other  parts  of  the 
foot.  The  simplest  treatment  I  have  found  to  be  the  quickest 
and  the  best :  First,  dress  the  foot,  as  per  Fig.  23,  then  take 
three  or  four  old  rasps,  sharpen  one  end  of  each  and  heat  to  a 
white  heat,  and  while  in  that  state  apply  to  cankered  part  of 
frog,  holding  the  iron  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees,  and  giv- 
ing it  a  quick  downward  stroke  along  the  side  of  frog  from 
upper  edge  down  and  forward,  and  continuing  with  the  other 
heated  irons  until  bottom  of  soreness  is  reached  and  burnt  away. 


182  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

Sometimes  this  disease  attacks  the  inner  and  outer  quarters,  and 
I  have  operated  on  chronic  cases  where  excrescences  had  been 
thrown  up  over  the  diseased  parts  Hke  finger  stumps,  standing 
out  from  one-fourth  to  three-fourths  inches,  and  by  this  burning 
process  have  permanently  cured  them.  Give  the  horse  a  hot 
water  foot  bath  for  three  hours  after  burning,  and  as  the  open 
state  of  cells  of  foot  after  these  operations  develops  granulations 
very  rapidly,  this  burning  and  soaking  treatment  must  be  kept 
up  daily  until  entirely  cured.  This  treatment  is  not  as  severe 
or  painful  as  it  appears,  as  the  horse  does  not  jerk  away  under 
it.  Do  not  poultice  the  foot,  but  let  it  remain  open,  and  keep 
the  horse  quiet  in  a  dry  stall. 

Foot  Rot,  or  Seedy  Toe.— This  insidious  dssease  occurs 
sometimes  in  the  toe,  and  at  other  times  around  the  inner  or 
outer  quarters  of  the  foot.  It  manifests  itself  by  a  wasting 
away  or  drying  up  of  the  sensitive  lamina,  and  in  slight  attacks 
may  be  easily  cured,  as  the  horse  seemingly  does  not  at  once  go 
lame,  seemingly  requiring  some  little  time  to  develop  into  a 
condition  of  lameness.  When  it  becomes  aggravated,  however, 
and  involves  toe  and  quarters,  it  is  disabling,  and  requires  care- 
ful treatment.  I  have  treated  some  very  stubborn  cases,  where 
a  complete  separation  of  wall  and  vascular  parts  had  taken 
place,  extending  almost  from  ground  surface  to  coronet,  and 
where  only  one  and  a  half  to  two  inches  of  solid  horn  re- 
mained. In  such  cases  I  removed  all  the  separated  parts  of  the 
wall  as  far  as  the  disease  extended,  fairly  uncovering  the  coffin 
bone.  I  then  made  a  wide  webbed,  deeply  concave  shoe  to 
cover  around  toe  and  quarters ;  thence  gradually  narrowing  it 
to  the  heels,  with  a  good  wide  bar  across  to  get  strong  frog 
pressure  ;  three  nail  holes  to  be  placed  on  each  side  at  the  heels, 
'Next  I  pulled  a  clip  on  each  side  of  the  quarters  and  at  front 
toe,  making  the  clips  very  long,  bent  up  at  the   same  angle  as 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC.  183 

the  wall,  fitting  shoe  snug  all  around,  with  a  light  leather  riveted 
on  to  hold  the  packing  of  salve  (see  prescription  K'o.  2),  with 
which  the  bottom  of  foot  should  be  filled.  After  the  shoe  is  on, 
take  enough  of  same  salve  warmed  and  build  on  outside  of  foot 
about  to  the  thickness  of  natural  hoof,  covering  the  surface  to 
at  least  one  inch  above  coronet ;  then  encase  same  within  a 
leather  strap  or  boot,  fitting  neatly  around  foot  from  shoe  to 
one  and  a  half  inch  above  coronet,  slip  the  leather  down  inside 
the  clips  running  back  under  the  bulge  of  the  heels,  buckle  on 
the  outside,  then  gently  drive  the  clips  in  toward  the  foot  to 
make  secure  hold  against  the  leather;  also  have  small  screw 
holes  drilled  through  the  clips,  about  one  half  inch  above  shoe, 
and  insert  screws  to  assist  in  holding  the  leather  firmly  to  bot- 
tom of  foot.  After  dressing  in  this  way  have  the  foot  soaked 
in  warm  water  two  hours  a  day;  this,  with  the  salve,  will  assist 
the  formation  of  new  horn  and  effect  a  permanent  cure. 
Horses  that  I  have  treated  in  this  way  have  not  only  grown 
new,  strong  hoofs,  but  were  at  the  same  time  used  daily  at  slow 
work. 

In  ordinary  cases  of  seedy  toe,  level  the  foot,  as  per  Fig. 
23,  then  with  a  probe  or  sharp  instrument  remove  all  pithy,  de- 
cayed substances  as  deep  as  such  extend,  being  careful  not  to 
draw  blood.  Fit  shoe  snug  to  foot,  draw  up  clips  on  shoe  op- 
posite the  separated  parts  to  secure  a  firm  brace  against  the 
weakened  wall  when  weight  of  horse  is  resting  on  it ;  have  as 
many  clips  as  may  be  necessary  for  this  purpose.  After  shoe  is 
fitted,  remove  the  lower  margin  of  hoof  so  that  no  pressure 
can  come  upon  the  separated  parts,  and  have  the  nails  located 
to  go  in  the  sound,  healthy  portions  of  the  horn.  Before  at- 
taching shoe  use  the  salve  treatment  as  directed  for  the  more 
severe  cases. 

The  subject  of  seedy  toe  would  not  be  complete  if  the  ac- 
companying  illustration    should   be    omitted.     It  is  an  admir- 


184 


SCIENTIFiC    HORSESIIOEIXG. 


Fig.  75.    hoof,  with  seedy  toe — shod. 

A,  A,  clips  on  shoe.    B,  diseased  portion. 
C,  C,  C,  sound  hoof. 


able  side  view,  showing 
a  chronic  case  of  foot 
rot,  caused  by  the  ex- 
cessive wasting  away  of 
the  sensitive  laminae  on 
that  side  of  the  hoof, 
either  by  inflammation 
produced  by  a  blow, 
or  by  undue  dry- 
ness of  the  hoof.  The 
disease  of  the  sensitive 
laminae  extends  as  high 
as  the  sound  hoof  out- 
lined by  the  letters  C,  C,  C. 
B  indicates  the  diseased 
portions  contiguous  to  the 
coffin  bone,  and  A,  A, 
the  necessary  clips  drawn 
upon  the  shoe,  as  spe- 
cifically explained  in  the 
preceding  paragraph. 


Fig.  76.     section  of  hoof  affected  with 
seedy  toe. 

A,  A,  Insensitive  lamina^.  B,  B,  Outer 
wall.  C,  C,  Wall  separated  from  lamiufe.  D, 
Bulging  or  dishing  effect  of  separation.  E» 
AVall  removed  opposite  separation.  F,  P,  In- 
sensitive sole.     G,  Frog. 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC.  185 

Broken  Bars.— This  ailment  is  the  result  of  an  over- 
growth of  the  sole  and  consequent  dryness  of  the  insensitive 
sole.  The  secretions  become  dry  and  hard,  the  bars  unyielding 
and  do  not  spring  as  the  horse  rests  his  weight  upon  the  foot. 
This  causes  the  bars  to  give  way  and  break,  making  the 
horse  very  lame.  If  not  properly  treated,  this  disease  often 
assumes  a  more  serious  form,  difficult  to  cure,  even  in  time ; 
and  if  neglected  its  ravages  will  soon  destroy  the  usefulness  of 
the  horse. 

The  process  of  treatment  I  use  is  to  pare  the  foot,  leaving 
a  good,  wide  outer  wall-bearing.  Then  commence  at  each  side 
of  the  point  of  the  frog  and  pare  the  commissures  thin  from 
point  of  frog  back  to  the  heels  on  the  inner  and  outer  sides  of 
the  foot;  then  remove  all  the  bars  and  sole  as  deep  as  the  soft 
tissues  or  broken  bars,  holding  the  knife  at  an  angle  of  about 
45  degrees,  paring  the  sole  and  bars  quite  thin.  The  broken 
ends  of  the  bars  must  be  removed  with  the  knife  as  deeply  as 
they  extend  up  into  the  foot.  See  that  the  foot  is  properly  bal- 
anced, and  then  make  and  put  on  a  suitable  shoe  for  the  work 
the  horse  has  to  perform.  Place  a  piece  of  sole  leather  iirst 
under  the  shoe,  covering  the  bottom  of  the  foot.  Ivivet  the 
sole  leather  at  the  heels  of  the  shoe,  trimming  the  leather  to  fit 
snugly  to  outside  of  shoe.  J^ext  hold  up  the  foot,  and  fill  the 
bottom  with  my  foot  salve  (recipe  ISTo.  2).  After  the  salve  has 
become  cool,  lay  a  thin  layer  of  white  cotton  over  the  bottom 
of  the  foot,  covering  the  salve,  and  nail  on  the  shoe.  The  salve 
will  exclude  the  air  from  the  affected  parts,  the  leather  will  pro- 
tect the  bottom  of  the  foot  and  hold  the  salve  in  its  place. 
Finally  stand  the  horse  in  the  soaking  tub  for  at  least  one  or 
two  hours  in  warm  water.  The  effect  of  the  soaking  tub  will 
be  to  open  the  pores  of  the  wall,  and  assist  nature  in  casting  off 
the  inflammation.  If  the  foot  should  show  signs  of  fever 
around  the  coronet  band,  keep  the  soaking  swabs  well  wet  with 
warm  water,  and  see  that  they  are  well   buckled    around  the 


186 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


lower  pasterns.  Keep  the  swabs  on  pastern  and  around  the 
foot  as  long  as  there  is  fever  around  the  coronet  band.  By  fol- 
lowinsr  the  above  instructions  I  have  never  failed  to  make  a 
permanent  cure  in  feet  aflt'ected  with  broken  bars.  This  opera- 
tion must  be  performed  by  a  competent  and  skillful  farrier. 


Lameness  and  Diseases  of  the  Foot. — One  of  the  most 
common  yet  painful  disorders  of  the  foot  is  a  separated  wall 

at  the  coronet,  which  may 
result  from  any  sharp  in- 
strument, such  as  a  wire 
fence,  the  calkin  of  the 
opposite  shoe,  or  a  raised 
clinch  of  the  nail.  This 
may  result  in  a  fissure  or 
crack  in  the  wall,  which 
will  become  permanent  as 
the  wall  grows  down,  or 
it  may  cause  a  wide  sepa- 
ration at  the  coronet. 

The  treatment  should 
never  involve  the  paring 
away  the  wall  at  the  coro- 
net, but  on  the  contrary 
at  the  ground  surface  of 
the  wall  immediately  be- 
low the  injury,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  77.  Then  place 
the  shoe  on  the  foot,  having  four  or  more  nail  holes  immediately 
below  the  ground  surface  thus  pared  away,  and  draw  them  up 
gradually — first  tapping  one,  then  another— till  the  wall  is 
drawn  down  to  the  shoe,  and  the  pressure  at  the  coronet  is 
relieved.  In  order  to  do  this  effectively,  the  hoof  should  be 
softened  bv  standing  in  warm  water  a  sufiicicnt  length  of  time. 


"*,' 


''■'?!l^'^ 


■iiiiiiiilllliilllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiinmiii»iiiii 


Fig.  77. 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


187 


If  there  is  any  foreign  or  detached  substance  in  the  wound  it 
should  be  cleansed  with  warm  water  injected,  or  the  wash  num- 
bered 4,  on  page  294. 

When  the  wound  has  been  thus  thoroughly  dressed,  then 
apply  the  salve  described  in  Recipe  Xo.  2,  on  page  292.  Use 
surgeon's  cotton,  saturated  with  the  heated  salve,  large  enough 
to  cover  the  wound  and  the  skin  of  the  coronet  above.  Then 
retain  the  cotton  dressing  by  applying  a  linen  bandage.  Then 
apply  the  iron  heated,  but  not  so  hot  as  to  burn  the  bandage, 
and  close  enough  to  open  the  pores.  The  inflammation  will 
pass  off  through  the  pores,  and  the  salve  will  stimulate  a 
healthy  growth. 

In  treating  draft  horses,  have  the  toe  well  set  back  on  the 
shoe,  provided  with  a 
side  heel  calkin  on  the 
affected  side.  The 
dressing  should  be  con- 
tinned  as  prescribed  for 
ten  days,  and  the 
wound  will  slowly  yet 
effectually  heal. 

There  are  many  in- 
stances in  which  it  is 
not  advisable  to  weak- 
en the  foot  by  tub 
baths,  especially  where 
the  inflammation  is 
confined  to  the  coro- 
nary baud.  An  admir- 
able substitute  is  found 
in  the  felt  swab  shown 
in  Ficr.  78,  well  satu- 
rated   in    warm    water 

and  buckled  around  the 
13 


Fig.  78. 


HEALTHY    FOOT   COVERED    BY    FELT 
SWAB. 


A,  £'Wab  buckled  around  pastern. 


188 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  79.     felt  swab. 

C,  C,  Inside  of  swab.     B,  B,  Strap  and 
buckle. 


hoof,  extending  above  the 
coronet.  This  is  espe- 
cially valuable  in  hot,  dry- 
weather,  when  the  hoof 
loses  the  moisture  from 
the  ground  and  becomes 
brittle  and  hard.  The 
swab  can  be  made  of 
thick  felt,  after  the  pat- 
tern shown  in  Fig.  79. 


Abnormal  Feet. — Before  making  an  examination  of  faulty 
limbs,  it  is  proper  to  present  the  subject  of  abnormal  feet.  The 
foot  is  in  perfect  poise  when  it  is  level  and  balanced,  the  heels 
being  of  the  same  height,  so  that  the  horse  lands  upon  both 
alike,  and  springs  from  a  level  toe,  after  he  has  rolled  over  quar- 
ters of  the  same  height.  The 
heels  must  not  be  too  high,  nor 
the  toe  too  long,  nor  the  hoot 
out  of  proportion  at  the  sides, 
taking  the  median  line  of  the 
cleft  of  the  frog  as  the  basis 
of  measurement. 

Fig.  80  represents  a  per- 
fect front  foot.  It  is  placed 
properly  under  the  carcass. 
The  vertical  line,  A,  A,  j)asse8 
down  through  the  axis  of  the 
cannon  bone,  and  reaches  the 
ground  at  the  posterior  angle 
of  the  wall  and  bar.  The  line 
B  B  intersects  the  line  A  A 
at  the  center  of  the  ankle 
joint,  and  passes  tlirough  the 


Fig.  80.     perfect  fku.nt  foot. 

A,  A,  Axial   line  of  leg.     E,   B, 
Axial  line  tlirough  coffin  bone. 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


189 


axis  of  the  coffin  bone  to 
the  ground,  which  indi- 
cates the  perfect  poise  of 
the  coffin  bone  when  the 
foot  is  at  rest.  This 
is  the  crucial  test  of  a 
foot  both  level  and  bal- 
anced. If  the  coffin  bone 
is  out  of  position  with 
reference  to  the  median 
line,  B,  B,  the  entire  foot 
and  limb  are  out  of  bal- 
ance. The  journals  of 
the  joints  at  the  ankle 
and  knee  do  not  articu- 
late in  equilibrio,  and  the 
tendons  and  ligaments  are 
unduly  taxed  or  relieved, 
dependent  upon  which 
side  of  the  hoof  bears  an 
undue  strain.  The  ac- 
companying drawings  will  illustrate  this  point.  Fig.  81  shows 
the  proper  position.  Fig.  86,  with  the  vertical  dropping  through 
the  apex  of  hoof,  is  the  reproduction  of  a  perfect  coffin  bone, 
photographed  from  nature.  The  line  of  pressure  was  thrown, 
back  from  its  correct  vertical  position  by  an  undue  length 
and  height  of  the  wall  at  the  toe  (see  Fig.  82).  The  reverse 
result  is  obtained  by  an  excessive  height  of  the  heel,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  85.  In  the  one  instance  a  preponderance  of  the  weight 
is  thrown  upon  the  flexors,  and  in  the  other  upon  the  extensors; 
and  in  both  cases  depriving  the  bone  structure  of  the  limb  of 
its  primary  function  of  being  the  organic  weight  bearer. 

The  practical  result  of  thus  placing   the  foot  out  of  line 
with  reference  to  the  vertical  position  of  the  cannon  bone,  and 


Fig.  81.     coffin  bone. 
Lateral  view — correct  position. 


190 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  82.    high  toe. 

Defective   results  shown  by  lines  B,  B, 
and  D,  D. 

passes  through  the  axis  of  the 
cannon  bone  reaches  the  ground 
at  an  appreciable  distance  back 
of  the  heel,  thus  showing  the 
entire  foot  and  limb  are  thrown 
forward  out  of  their  proper  posi- 
tion. Moreover,  the  inclination 
of  the  pastern  joint  is  enormously 
increased,  as  shown  by  the  line 
D,  D,  whereas  the  proper  in- 
clination is  shown  by  the  line 
B,  B.  Now,  if  the  toe  is  low- 
ered the  distance  marked  C,  C,  it 
is  apparent  that  the  vertical  line 
A,  A,  will  be  thrown  forward  till 
it  will  pass  through  the  axis  of 


the  proper  inclination  of 
the  pastern  joint,  is  pre- 
cisely the  reverse  of  what 
is  the  general  conclusion 
of  the  averao-e  horseman. 
For  instance,  an  abnor- 
mal hio;h  toe  invariablv 
pitches  the  foot  and  limb 
forward,  and  an  extra 
high  heel  (Fig.  85)  has 
the  opposite  result.  This 
is  plainly  shown  in  Fig. 
84.  By  elevating  the  toe 
the     vertical      line      that 


Fig.  83.  coffin  bone,  same  defect. 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


191 


the  ankle  joiut  and  touch  the  heel  at  the  ground  surface.  The 
foot  will  then  resume  its  normal 
position,  by  standing  further 
back  directly  under  the  limb. 
This  investigation  is  so 
important  in  its  practical  re- 
sults that  the  converse  effect 
of  excessive  height  of  the 
heels  is  illustrated  in  this  con- 
nection. Fig.  84  shows  this 
defect  in  dressing  the  hoof  for 
the  shoe.  The  vertical  line  of 
pressure,  A,  A,  is  thrown  for- 
ward beyond  the  axis  of  the 


Fig.  85.     coffin  bone,  same  defect. 


Fig.   84.    shows   defect    caused  by 
too  iiigu  ueels. 

cannon  bone,  so  that  it 
reaches  the  ground  far  in 
advance  of  the  angle  of  the 
heel.  The  inclination  of  the 
pastern  is  made  more  up- 
right, as  shown  by  the  line 
J),  J),  instead  of  preserving 
its  normal  position  as  indi- 
cated by  the  line  B,  B.  If 
the  heels  are  lowered  the 
distance  indicated  bv  the 
line  C,  C,  the  foot  will  be 
changed  to  the  correct  po- 
sition indicated  by  E,  E, 
and    all    the    bones,   joints, 


192 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.    86.    coffin  bone — vertical    in 

LINE. 

Fig.  86  is  a  photograph  of  a  perfect 
cofBn  bone,  exactly  level  on  sole 
bearing,  "with  the  flexor  tendon  cut 
off  even  with  B,  the  navicular  bone. 
In  a  well-balanced  foot  the  vertical 
dropped  from  the  center  of  the  knee 
passes  through  the  center  of  the  apex 
of  the  coffin  bone. 


Fig.  87.     coffin  bone — vertical  out 

OF    LINE. 

Fig.  87  is  a  photograph  of  a  perfect 
coffin  bone,  showing  the  effects  of  an 
uneven  heiglit  of  quarters.  Assum- 
ing width  of  hoof  4  inches  on  the 
bottom,  distance  from  base  to  knee 
20  inches,  difference  of  height  in 
quarters  of  }  inch  would  cause  a  dis- 
placement of  1|^  inches  at  the  knee, 
thus  unevenly  distributing  the  weight 
and  bearings. 


tendons  and  ligaments  will  operate  in  structural  har- 
mony. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  advance  to  the  consideration  of 
the  foot  and  leg  in  their  proper  positions  as  weight  bearers. 

Fig.  88  has  been  drawn  with  great  care  to  show  the  perfect 
front  limb  and  foot.     It  is  correctly  placed  under  the  carcass,  so 


LAMENESS   AND   DISEASES,    ETC. 


193 


ElG.  88.   PERFECT  FRONT 
LIMB  AND  FOOT. 


Fig.    89.     front   limb  and   foot  pointing   for- 
ward—  HIGH   toe. 


that  the  bone  structure  from  the  shoulder  to  the  ground  surface 
shall  bear  its  exact  proportion  of  the  body,  and  enable  all  the 
complex  actions  of  the  joints,  tendons  and  ligaments  to  operate 
with  the  greatest  ease,  precision  and  effect. 

Fig.  89  shows  the  limb  and  foot  pointing  forward,  by  reason 
of  the  causes  heretofore  explained.  The  invariable  result  of 
this  faulty  position  is  soreness  at  the  point  of  the  frog.  To  re- 
lieve this  painful  ailment,  the  toe  should  be  lowered  and  the 
wall  relieved  at  the  toe,  so  that  no  bearing  will  be  placed  upon 
the  shoe,  at  least  the  thickness  of  a  ITo.  5  horseshoe  nail  around 
the  forward  arch  of  the  hoof,  and  the  two  toe  nails  be  left  out. 
This  will  orive  almost  instant  relief. 


194 


SCIENTIFIC    HUKSESHOEING. 


The  opposite 
result,  from  an  ex- 
cessive height  of 
heel,  is  exempli- 
fied ill  Fi^.  90. 
The  trouble,  after 
a  careful  examina- 
tion, will  invaria- 
bly be  located  in 
the  heel  and  the 
flexor  tendon. 
Gentle  pressure  or 
slight  blows  will 
indicate  the  sore 
spot.  The  hard, 
unyielding  sole  at 
the  point  of  pain 
should  be  re- 
moved and  the 
inflammation  re- 
duced by  standing 
the  foot  and  limb  in  a  bath  of  tepid  water.  The  hospital  shoe 
to  prevent  lameness,  if  the  horse  is  needed  for  immediate  use, 
can  be  selected  from  several  approved  patterns.  It  may  be 
necessary  to  cover  the  sole  of  the  foot  for  the  first  shoeing  with 
protecting  leather.  When  this  is  done  the  best  shoe  to  use  is 
the  bar,  as  shown  on  page  233.  As  a  remedial  shoe  it  can  be 
improved  by  welding  on  oblong  heel  calkins,  and  a  long  toe 
calkin  set  back  from,  the  outer  web  of  the  shoe  in  front.  If  an 
open  shoe  is  preferred,  the  four-calkin  shoe  illustrated  on  page 
213  (Fig.  101)  will  answer  the  purpose.  In  case  the  lameness 
is  severe,  the  leather  covering  may  be  supplied  with  a  packing 
to  keep  the  sole  of  the  foot  from  becoming  hard  and  dry.  In 
that  event,  my  experience  has  demonstrated  the  benefit  of  using 


Fig.  90.     front  limb  and  foot, 
pointing  backward. 


LAMENESS   AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


195 


fat  pickled  pork,  just  out  of  the  brine,  cut  in  long,  thin  slices 
and  pressed  well  into  the  sore  spot  and  into  the  commissures. 
The  inflammation  will  be  relieved  if  the  foot,  when  thus  packed, 
is  placed  in  warm  water  for  at  least  two  hours,  keeping  up  the 
temperature  as  hot  as  the  hand  can  bear. 

If  speed  is  required  while  the  horse  is  under  treatment,  the 
rolling  motion  shoe  (Fig.  125),  on  page  235,  may  be  used;  or, 
if  the  action  is  already  too  high,  the  scoop-toe  shoe  (Fig.  121, 
page  232)  can  be  substituted. 

When  the  weight  is  thrown,  by  reason  of  a  too  high  or  long 
toe,  unduly  upon  the  flexor 
tendon,  the  result  in  violent 
action  shows  itself  in  eitber- 
an  inflamed  flexor  tendon 
or  a  complete  let-down.  In 
the  latter  case  the  usefulness 
of  the  horse  is  at  an  end, 
but  in  the  former,  remedial 
treatment,  accompanied  with 
absolute  rest,  insures  a  per- 
fect cure.  The  tendon  bows 
out  as  shown  in  Fig.  91. 
The  foot  should  be  dressed 
as  shown  in  the  illustration, 
and  a  prepared  surgeon's 
bandage,  wrung  out  in  witch 
hazel,  applied  as  therein 
shown,  after  the  limb  has 
been  thoroughly  bathed  in 
the  same  preparation. 

After  the  leg  has  thus 

been    bandaged    moderately 

ticrht,    the    foot    should    be    ^ 
'^      '      _  _        Fig.   91. 

shod    with    the    four-calkin 


FOOT  PROPERLY  PARED  BEFORE 
BEING  SHOD. 


196 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


shoe  as  illustrated  in  Fig.  101,  page  213.  The  heel  calkins 
should  be  higher  than  the  toe  calkins.  This  will  throw  the 
weight  forward  upon  the  cannon  bones  and  relieve  the  flexor 
tendons  till  the  inflammation  subsides.  When  this  is  accom- 
plished  the   witch  hazel  may   be  discontinued,  and  the  more 


-  i;,i//M, 


Fig.  92.     foot  aftkr  being  bandaged  and  shod. 


stimulating  liniment  described  on  page  294,  Recipe  3,  can  be 
substituted.  The  liniment  can  be  alternated  with  the  bandage, 
each  being  applied  every  other  day  for  ten  days,  when  nature 
will  complete  the  cure. 

It  may  be  useful  to  describe  a  proper  soaking  tub.     Such  a 
vessel  is  shown  in  Fig.  93.     It  should  be  made  of  hard  w^ood, 


LAMENESS    AND    DISEASES,    ETC. 


197 


about  twenty  inches  in  height  and  width,  with  a  strong  bottom 
sufficient  to  stand  the  pressure  of  the  heaviest  draught  horse. 
When  the  treatment  is  for  inflamed  tendons,  the  warm  water 
should  be  at  least  sixteen  inches  in  depth,  while  five  or  six 
inches  of  water  is  sufficient  for  the  ordinary  foot  bath. 


Fig.  93.    soaking  tub. 


198  SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 
FAULTS  OF  STRUCTURE  AND  ACTION. 

REGULATED  OR  RESTRICTED  BY  SHOEING. 

A  large  percentage  of  the  horses  have  feet  or  legs  which 
are  not  perfect  in  conformation,  and  as  a  consequence  of  these 
imperfections  they  are  especially  predisposed  to  certain  injuries- 
and  diseases,  as  well  as  to  manifest  discordance  of  action — un- 
desirable in  itself  and  unpleasant  in  its  effects  according  to  the 
rapidity  of  motion  in  different  gaits.  Much  may  be  learned 
from  careful  observation  of  the  action  of  an  evenly-balanced 
horse,  as  a  standard  by  which  to  compare  and  determine  that 
which  is  defective  or  undesirable  in  figure  and  gait,  as  previously 
indicated  in  Chapters  I  and  V. 

After  examining  the  gait  at  which  the  horse  moves,  as- 
pointed  out,  carefully  study  the  poise  of  the  legs  and  feet  when 
at  rest.  The  weak  points  of  a  horse's  conformation  can  be  bet- 
ter discovered  while  standing  than  while  moving.  If  he  is  sound 
he  will  stand  firmly  and  squarely  on  his  limbs  without  moving 
them,  with  legs  plump  and  naturally  and  equally  poised  ;  or  if 
the  foot  is  taken  from  the  ground  and  the  weight  taken  from  it,, 
disease  may  be  suspected  or  at  least  tenderness,  which  is  the- 
precursor  of  disease.  If  the  horse  stands  with  his  feet  spread 
apart,  or  straddles  with  his  hind  legs,  there  is  a  weakness  in  the 
loins  and  the  kidneys  are  disordered.  Heavy  pulling  bends  the 
knees.  A  kicking  horse  is  apt  to  have  scarred  legs  ;  a  stumbling 
horse  has  blemished  knees,  etc. 

Never  buy  a  horse  in  harness.  Unhitch  him  and  take  every 
thing  off'  but  his  halter  and  lead  him  around.  If  he  has  a  corn 
or  is  stiff',  or  has  any  other  failing,  you  can  see  it.     Let  him  go- 


FAULTY    CONFORMATION    AND    MOVEMENT.  199 

"by  himself  aways.  Back  him  too.  Some  horses  show  their 
weakness  or  tricks  in  that  way  when  they  do  n't  in  any  other. 

The  vital  part  of  a  horse,  as  far  as  his  value  is  concerned,  is 
the  foot,  for  it  is  only  as  an  organized  locomotive  machine  that 
the  horse  is  practically  the  most  valuable  companion  to  man. 
Hence  without  good  feet  and  supple,  muscular  legs  he  would  be 
of  small  value,  either  for  work  or  speed,  and  the  rational  care 
of  these  underlies  all  else  in  the  equine  economy,  as  any  impair- 
ment of  them  is  a  matter  of  extreme  gravity"  and  apprehension. 

It  is  difficult,  indeed,  to  understand  how  the  feet  and  legs 
of  horses  stand  the  wear  and  tear  of  work  in  our  great  cities, 
where  every  step  of  their  iron-shod  hoofs  is  upon  a  hard,  un- 
yielding road ;  and  where,  even  at  rest  in  their  stables,  they  are, 
in  a  majority  of  cases,  condemned  to  stand  upon  hard  floors. 
There  is  no  other  creature  living — save  and  excepting  the  don- 
key or  mule — which  can  long  bear  the  constant  battering  en- 
tailed by  rapid  locomotion  over  a  paved  surface.  But  if  we 
look  at  the  structure  of  the  horse's  foot  (Figs.  3  to  15)  we  see 
how  it  is  that  the  jar  and  vibration  do  not  injure  them  more — 
severe  as  it  is  known  to  be.  He  is  in  fact  mounted  on  springs, 
and  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  intricate  apparatus  of  locomo- 
tion, with  its  symmetry  of  movement  and  the  perfection  of  its 
details  should  be  admiringly  termed  "  a  living  machine." 

In  the  language  of  another  :  "  His  very  muscles  appear  at 
every  motion,  not  soft  and  flabby,  but  firm  and  distinct.  His 
veins,  like  rivulets,  run  in  an  infinite  number  of  meanders, 
his  limbs  are  clean,  nervous,  durable  and  ready  at  every  call — 
and  of  all  creatures  he  seems  to  approach  nearest  man,  both  for 
beauty,  majesty  and  sagacity,  and  his  services  are  likewise  the 
most  noble  and  excellent." 

The  drawings  on  the  following  pages  fairly  illustrate  the  dif- 
ference between  well-formed  and  malformed  legs,  and  good  and 
faulty  standing  positions.  A  comparison  of  these  may  enable  the 
reader  to  judge  for  himself  as  to  what  is  the  best  position,  and 


200 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


1.  Too  straight.  2.  Too  much  bent.  3.  Too  far  behind. 

Fig.  94.    faulty  positions  op  hind  legs,  side  view. 

what  condition  or  malformation  of  the  legs  causes  deviation 
therefrom.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  experience 
is  the  best  and  only  teacher  in  matters  of  this  kind,  and  that  all 
I  can  attempt  within  the  limits  of  this  branch  of  my  subject, 
is  to  set  the  reader  on  the  right  track;  the  rest  depends  upon 
himself. 

The  character  and  position  of  the  hock  has  much  to  do  with 
the  standing  position  of  the  rear  part  of  the  horse,  and  the 
numerous  faulty  positions  in  which  we  show  this  is  conclusive 
on  this  point.  The  qualities  of  a  good  hock  are  that  it  should 
be  clear,  rigid,  and  well  defined,  without  puffiness  or  swelling ; 
the  bones  should  be  large  and  prominent,  and  viewed  from  the 
side  should  appear  wide  above  and  below.  They  should  be 
neither  straight  or  overbent.  There  is  also  a  relative  value  to 
be  attached  to  hocks  malformed  or  apparently  difi:ering  from 
those  laid  down.  Horses  with  defective  hocks  may  be  good 
for  one  sort  of  work  and  unsuited  to  another.     As  for  instance,. 


FAULTY  CONFORMATIOX  AND  MOVEMENT. 


201 


hocks  that  will  not  stand  violent  exertions  may  endure  for  years, 
in  quiet  work  ;  but  these  are  exceptions,  and  the  rule  stands 
good  as  before. 

Comparing  Figs.  1,  2,  3  (page  200),  and  4  and  5  (page  201), 
we  recosrnize  some  broad  distinctions. 

In  Fig.  1,  the  hock  is  too  straight.  The  legs  in  this  posi- 
tion are  subject  to  spavin  and  thorough-pin. 

In  Fig.  2,  the  hock  is  overbent  and  we  may  look  for  curb. 

In  Fig.  3,  the  leg  is  too  far  behind ;  and,  therefore,  does  not 
afford  the  horse  sufficient  propelling  power. 

In  Fig.  4,  the  hocks  stand  in  and  the  toes  stand  out ;  and 
in  Fiff.  5,  the  hocks  stand  out  and  the  toes  stand  in. 

In  contrast  to  the  foregoing.  Figs.  6  and  7  (page  202),  rep- 
resent the  usually  recommended  position  and  what  is  considered 
the  best  position ;  and  in  connection  herewith  the  reader  is  re- 
spectfully referred  again  to  Fig.  1,  illustrating  the  model  horse,, 
according  to  my  50  years'  experience  and  observation. 


4.  Hocks  too  close.  5.  Hocks  too  open. 

Fig.  95.    faulty  position  of  hind  legs,  back  view. 


202 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


6.  Position  usually  recommended.  7.  Best  position. 

Fig.  96.    good  position  of  hind  legs. 


Figs.  8,  9,  10  and  11 
represent  faulty  positions  of 
the  fore  legs.  In  Fig.  8, 
the  elbow  stands  out  and  the 
toes  stand  in,  commonly 
called  "  pigeon  toes."  In 
Fig.  9,  the  elbows  stand  in 
and  the  toes  stand  out,  caus- 
ing the  knees  to  spring  to- 
gether. 

In  Fig.  10,  on  the 
189th  page,  we  have  a  side 
view  of   what  is    termed  a 

8.  "Pigeon-toed."  9.  Knock-kneed.       "calf  leg,"  in  this  the  Verti- 

FiG.  97.  FAULTY  positions  OF  FORE  LEGS,  cal    lluc    from    the    should- 
er through  the  axis  will  pass  outside  of  and  at  a  distance  from 


FAULTY    CONFORMATION    AND    MOVEMENT. 


203 


10.  Calf  leg. 


11.  Feet  too  close. 


the  wings  of  the  lieels.  This,  as 
will  be  seen  upon  reference 
thereto,  varies  much  from  the 
requirements  of  a  perfect  horse. 
Such  a  position  does  not  denote 
speed,  but  is  not  objectionable  in 
a  draft  horse.  In  Fig.  11,  the 
feet  stand  too  closely  together  on 
the  ground  ;  a  position  not  recom- 
mended in  a  good  horse. 

Finally,     in     contrast    with 
these  faulty  positions  of  the  fore- 
legs, we  show  front  and  side  views 
of    them,    in    which    the    points 
Fig.  98.   faulty  positions  of  fore     favorable  in  a  perfect  horse  are  all 

noticeable.  In  the  side  view,  the 
foot  is  well  under  the  leg,  and  the  axis  of  the  bones  of  the  leg 
are  all  in  line,  as  indicated 
by  the  vertical  dotted  line 
that  drops  from  point  of 
shoulder  to  foot,  and  the 
foot  stands  upon  its  proper 
angle. 

In  the  front  view  the 
conditions  still  remain  the 
same.  The  shoulders  are 
prominent,  strong  and  well- 
set  back,  the  fore  arm  is 
muscular,  the  fore  leg  tap- 
ered from  elbow  to  foot,  and 
the  dotted  line,  in  the  ver- 
tical, passes  directly  through 
the  axis  of  each  leg  and  foot 
14 


12.  Side. 
Fig.  99. 


13.  Front. 

VIEWS   OF    PERFECT    LEGS. 


204  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

Care  of  the  Foot  from  Colthood. — I  have  often  read  and 
heard  the  statements  of  many  authorities  to  the  effect  that  the 
inside  quarters  of  the  horse's  foot  were  weaker  than  the  out- 
side quarters ;  but  from  personal  observation  and  practical 
knowledge,  I  can  safely  say  that  those  statements  are  true  only 
in  cases  of  disproportionate  build  or  where  the  foot  has  become 
altered  or  affected  by  mismanagement  or  improper  shoeing. 
In  a  perfect,  healthful  foot,  such  as  is  shown  in  Fig.  24, 
however,  the  different  parts  are,  without  exception,  symmetrical. 

And  that  I  might  satisfy  myself  fully  in  this  regard,  I  have 
for  many  years  visited  the  fertilizing  factories,  and  with  a  com- 
pass have  closely  examined  thousands  of  green  specimens  after 
they  were  stripped,  and  measured  them  from  the  center  of 
fissures  to  the  union  of  the  inner  wall  and  floor  of  sole  on  both 
sides  from  quarters  back  to  heels,  and  never  found  an  instance 
of  a  healthful  foot  where  the  difference  exceeded  the  sixteenth 
of  an  inch.  And  even  when  the  outer  wall  has  grown  more 
luxuriantly  upon  one  side  than  the  other,  have  I  ever  found 
any  perceptible  difference  in  the  inner  part  of  the  foot.  I  have 
also  closely  examined  with  calipers  the  wall  upon  both  quarters 
of  feet  which  never  had  been  shod  or  tampered  with,  from,  the 
center  of  the  back  through  the  quarters  to  the  heels,  and  never 
found  any  variation  in  the  thickness.  And  I  have  gone  still 
further  to  satisfy  myself  upon  this  point.  I  have  repeated  vis- 
ited stock  farms  containing  fifty  or  seventy-five  horses  and  colts, 
whose  feet  never  have  been  shod  or  tampered  with,  and  upon 
careful  inspection  have  found  that  the  one-sided  growth  was  due 
to  the  comparative  length  of  the  neck  and  legs.  If  the  legs 
were  short  and  the  neck  long,  the  feet  would  be  straight ;  that 
is,  if  the  horse  was  perfectly  built,  the  legs  and  neck  propor- 
tional, the  feet  were  always  straight  in  front  and  the  growth  of 
the  foot  symmetrical.  If  the  legs  were  long  and  the  neck  short, 
the  growth  was  more  luxuriant  upon  the  outside  quarters.  In 
some  instances  where  the  points  of  the  shoulder  were  wide  and 


FAULTY    COxVFOKMATIOX    AND    MOVEMENT.  205 

the  legs  inclined  inward,  their  feet  would  stand  closely  together 
and  the  growth  was  greater  on  the  inside  than  on  the  outside 
quarter;  or  vice  versa,  if  the  points  of  the  shoulder  were  nar- 
row, the  horse  knock-kneed,  and  the  feet  apart,  the  growth 
would  be  larger  on  the  outer  than  inner  quarter. 

And  in  fact  the  variation  in  growth  at  quarters  may  exist  to 
a  great  degree.  In  all.  my  measurements  of  the  wall  from  the 
inner  floors  of  the  foot  to  the  coronet,  I  did  not  find  the  quar- 
ters vary  in  thickness  one  from  the  other.  When  the  old  cus- 
tom existed  of  making  shoes  rights  and  lefts,  the  inner  quar- 
ter was  made  straighter  than  the  outer,  and  even  up  to  the 
present  day  the  unskillful  farrier,  in  fitting  shoes,  files  and  rasps 
the  inner  quarter  straighter  than  the  outer,  to  make  the  hoof 
agree  with  the  shoe. 

After  all  these  examinations,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
there  was  no  right  or  left  to  the  foot ;  that  what  will  fit  one  foot 
will  fit  its  mate.  If  the  horse  does  not  travel  squarely  on  his 
feet^  search  out  the  cause  and  you  will  find  my  statements  true. 
It  is  only  the  skillful  farrier  who  can  adjust  shoes  to  correct 
malformations ;  the  hind  feet  difl:er  in  shape  from  the  fore  feet ; 
and  it  requires  more  good  judgment  to  shoe  the  front  than  the 
hind  feet,  to  keep  the  horse  squarely  upon  his  feet. 

In  conclusion,  I  desire  to  add  briefly,  in  the  light  of  the 
above  facts,  that  in  order  to  have  perfect  horses,  the  feet  should 
be  kept  level  and  straight  in  colthood.  The  surplus  growth 
should  be  pared  and  removed  at  least  four  times  a  year,  and 
oftener,  if  necessary.  For,  if  the  feet  be  left  to  grow  in  a  faulty 
position  up  to  maturity,  we  may  expect  imperfect  feet  or  legs. 
Almost  any  imperfect  foot  or  leg,  if  treated  in  colthood,  can  be 
straightened ;  but  if  it  be  neglected  to  the  age  of  six  or  seven 
years,  it  is  then  too  late.  A  great  deal,  however,  can  be  done  to 
assist  nature  in  restoring  the  malformation ;  and  it  is  not  to  be 
denied  that  the  usefulness  of  the  horse  depends  upon  good,  solid 
feet  and  leers. 


206  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

Splay  Foot — Knee  Hitting. — The  term  "  splay  foot  "  is 
applied  to  horses  that  point  or  spread  their  toes  outward.  This 
condition  may  arise  from  either  one  of  two  causes:  lirst,  from  a 
fault  of  conformation,  which  may  be  discovered  by  an  examina- 
tion of  the  limb  from  the  foot  to  the  shoulder.  If  the  toe  turns 
out  and  the  upper  arm  stands  in  close  to  the  body,  the  malform- 
ation is  in  the  "  splayed  "  condition  of  the  upper  arm  or  shoulder 
joint.  When  this  is  the  case  there  is  no  remedy  to  be  found  in 
any  proposed  style  of  shoeing,  for  the  foot  can  not  be  pared  to 
bring  it  straight  in  line  with  the  median  plane  of  the  body  with- 
out violently  wrenching  or  twisting  the  jointed  process  of  the 
shoulder  and  forearm. 

Second,  The  cause  may  be  referred  to  mismanagement  or 
improper  shoeing  of  the  foot.  In  this  case  the  arm  may  be 
normal  and  the  fault  confined  to  the  ankle  and  foot — the  pastern 
inclined  inward  and  the  toe  of  the  foot  turned  outward.  An 
examination  of  the  hoof  under  these  circumstances  will  reveal 
that  the  splayed  appearance  does  not  exist  in  the  condition  of 
the  limb,  and  is  therefore  not  real  but  is  due  to  an  unbalanced 
foot — the  outside  of  the  splay  foot  being  too  high  at  the  toe. 
This  defect  can  then  be  remedied  and  the  foot  straightened  in 
line  with  the  normal  axis  of  the  leg  by  proper  attention  in 
shoeing. 

Sometimes  this  deformity  is  visible  only  in  one  limb,  while 
its  counterpart  may  be  perfectly  straight.  An  instance  of  this 
kind  that  came  under  my  observation  was  the  case  of  the  once 
noted  trotter,  "  Jo  Bunker."  One  of  his  fore  limbs  curved  in- 
ward very  noticeably,  with  the  foot  splayed  or  turned  outward, 
but  the  other  limb  was  straight  and  true  to  the  line  of  normal 
movement. 

When  at  rest  splay-footed  horses  always  stand  with  their 
front  feet  slanting,  wide  apart,  with  toes  out  and  heels  in  ;  and 
from  this  fact  it  is  apparent  that  the  higher  the  outside  toe  is, 
the  farther  and  wider  will  the  feet  point.     The  longer,  too,  that 


FAULTY    CONFORMATION    AND    MOVEMENT.  207 

a  horse  is  allowed  to  remain  in  this  condition,  the  more  difficult 
it  will  be  to  remedy  it,  but  much  may  be  done  in  most  cases  to 
bring  the  feet  to  a  correct  bearing  by  timely  methods  of  shoe- 
ing. Splay-footed  horses  are  usually  liable  to  strike  or  cut  their 
knees,  hence,  in  undertaking  to  shoe  them  for  the  prevention  of 
this  trouble,  first  examine  the  position  of  both  fore  and  hind 
limbs  as  they  stand  on  a  level  floor,  and  note  how  they  are  dis  • 
posed.  Every  splay-footed,  knee-hitting  horse  places  his  front 
feet  with  the  outside  margin  of  the  toe  first  in  contact  with  the 
ground,  with  a  twist  to  the  inside  heel  as  it  drops.  The  outside 
toe  being  the  high  point  of  the  foot  and  standing  out  of  the 
rectilinear  way  of  movement,  the  knee  of  that  limb  can  not 
swing  out  far  enough  to  clear  the  other  in  passing.  The  con- 
trolling power  of  the  muscles  is  exercised  at  the  ground  resist- 
ance, and  if  the  foot  leaves  the  ground  straight  it  will  be  carried 
straight,  but  if  it  inclines  to  wind  or  dip  in  or  out,  the  position 
of  the  foot  on  the  ground  will  indicate  when  it  is  not  in  line 
with  the  normal  axis  of  the  limb. 

To  overcome  knee-hitting  in  splay-footed  horses,  the  direc- 
tions for  leveling  and  balancing  the  foot,  as  per  Fig.  23,  Chapter 
IV,  must  be  observed.  If  there  is  a  dished-in  of  the  outside 
quarter  and  toe,  rasp  or  file  it  to  a  line  from  ground  to  coronet, 
as  shown  in  Figs.  17  and  18.  Then,  if  more  length  is  required 
for  the  ground  surface,  let  the  shoe  extend  over  the  front  part 
of  the  hoof  to  meet  the  necessities  of  the  case.  The  more  the 
foot  winds  or  twists  the  greater  the  projection  of  shoe  must  be 
over  outside  toe. 

Fig.  100,  on  the  following  page,  represents  the  pattern  of 
shoe  designed  for  extreme  cases  of  knee  hitting,  and  shows  ex- 
tension of  web  over  the  rim  of  outside  toe  to  prevent  the  inward 
dipping  of  the  foot  as  it  leaves  the  ground,  that  carries  it  over 
against  the  opposite  limb  in  motion.  Where  the  inside  base  of 
the  hoof  can  not  be  pared  from  toe  to  heel  to  bring  the  foot  in 
line  with  normal  center  of  limb,  carefully  observe  if  pastern 


o 


08 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


still  inclines  inward,  and  if 
so,  it  must  be  made  to  con- 
form to  the  ris^ht  front  line 
by  building  up  the  inside 
heel  with  a  strip  of  sole 
leather  inserted  under  the 
shoe,  gradually  tapering  it 
oii"  from  the  heel  to  a  thin 
edge  forward  to  center  of 
toe,  and  then  rivet  on  the 
leather  and  affix  the  shoe. 
On    some    occasions,  as 

Fig.  100.  front  foot  shoe  (ground  sur-    ^^^ere  a  horse  cuts  but  one 
face)    for    splay-footed    and     chronic 
KNEE-HITTING  HORSES.  kncg,  It  may  be  found  that 

A,  Inside  branch.     B,  Outside  branch,     ^^e  foot  on  the  injured  limb 
C,  Rivet  hole,  for  securing  leather  slips    is    out    of    balance,    and    not 

when  required   to   straighten   the   inside     ,,  .1     j.   i         xi      T_-i.j.- 

,     ,  ^      ,        ^u     r    ^  1      1      .J  •     r        the  one  that  does  the  hittinff. 
heel  to  place  the  foot   level  and  in  line  o 

with  the  center  of  limb.    The  dotted  white     In  such  event  the  foot  of  the 

line  indicates  extension  of  shoe  over  out-     •    -^^.^^      j-^^      ^^^^^     ^^. 

side  toe  of  foot.  ''  ° 

properly    leveled,     may    be 

shod  with  pattern.  Fig.  104.  The  effect  of  this  shoe  will  be  to 

turn  or  roll  the  limb  out  of  the  way  of  the  other  foot  by  means 

of  the  outer  bevel  on  the  outside  toe.     Or  on  removal  of  the  old 

shoe  it  can  be  made  to  answer  the  same  purpose  by  welding  a 

toe  calk  on  the  inner  side,  about  one  inch   from  center  of  toe, 

the  calk  to  be  one-fourth  inch  high  by  one  inch  long. 

Forging  or  Clicking. — The  habit  of  forging  or  clicking 
peculiar  to  many  horses  may  arise  either  from  disproportionate 
construction,  or,  which  is  most  often  the  case,  from  improper 
shoeing;  and  indeed,  from  my  own  personal  observation,  I  am 
led  to  believe  that  in  many  cases  both  causes  may  prevail  at  the 
same  time.  As  one  example,  a  colt,  pure-gaited,  never  before 
shod,  may  be  brought  to  me  for  shoeing,  and  I  shoe  him  in  ac- 


I 
I 


i 


FAULTY    CONFORMATIOX    AND    MOVEMENT.  209 

cordance  with  my  best  judgment.  Upon  trial,  he  may  begin  to 
forge  or  click  at  once,  or  possibly  not  until  after  a  lapse  of  time. 
Upon  being  brought  back  to  me  for  a  second  examination  and 
another  shoeing,  I  may  be  able  to  detect  the  fault  at  once ;  pos- 
sibly not,  however,  until  after  a  third  shoeing.  It  is  evident, 
therefore,  supposing  that  I  am  competent  in  every  way  in  my 
handicraft,  that  if  that  colt  continues,  as  we  have  above  said,  to 
forsre  or  click,  that  we  must  look  for  the  cause  in  the  animal 
itself. 

Upon  examination  it  will  be  found  that  the  fourteenth  dor- 
sal vertebrae  (see  skeleton.  Fig.  2)  is  the  pivot  or  axis  around 
which  the  weight  is  poised,  being  the  center  of  gravitation.  It 
is  plain,  therefore,  that  if  the  symmetry  of  the  horse  be  afiected 
either  by  disproportionate  construction,  by  acquired  faults  or  by 
wrong  shoeing,  that  his  center  of  gravity  is  disturbed ;  that  is, 
he  is  unbalanced.  And  such,  in  a  word,  is  the  general  cause  of 
the  fault  under  discussion. 

The  horse  may  be  heavier  in  front  than  behind  ;  he  may  be 
too  upright  in  his  shoulders  ;  he  may  be  short  in  his  pasterns. 
His  legs  may  be  disproportionately  long  in  comparison  with  his 
length  under  the  belly.  He  may  have  long  pasterns  and  be 
unnaturally  long  in  his  sweeps  behind,  or  close  gaited  behind, 
due  to  his  stifle  standing  in,  his  hocks  standing  out  and  his 
toes  inwardly  inclined ;  or  he  may  carry  his  head  too  high  or 
too  low. 

Any  one  or  more  of  these  causes  may  have  been  present  in 
the  example  above  given,  and  were  brought  out  upon  the  first 
shoeing.  When,  therefore,  a  horse  is  found  to  be  subject  to 
forging  or  clicking,  the  first  and  all-important  thing  is  to  deter- 
mine how  he  is  unbalanced  and  proceed  to  distribute  equally 
around  the  center  of  his  gravitation  the  natural  and  acquired 
weights  he  must  carry.  ISTo  general  rule  can  be  given  for  this. 
In  the  cases  above  mentioned,  one  must  rely  upon  his  own  judg- 
ment and  experience.     I  have  had  occasion  many  times  to  de- 


210  SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 

termine  for  myself  practically  the  difference  in  weight  of  the 
fore  and  hind  feet  of  horses,  and  having  cut  them  off  to  the 
coronet  from  the  same  horses  and  weighed  them,  have  found 
that  the  fore  feet  exceeded  the  weight  of  the  hind  feet  on  the 
average  of  two  and  one-fourth  to  two  and  three-fourth  ounces. 
If  now  this  difference  had  been  a  cause  of  forging,  it  was  ob- 
viously my  duty  to  adjust  the  difference  in  weight  in  the  manner 
which  I  should  deem  most  expedient  in  restoring  the  horse  to 
his  balance. 

To  treat  successfully  the  habit  of  forging  or  clicking,  it  is 
necessary  that  the  farrier  should  know  first  the  gait  at  which 
clicking  occurs,  and  the  proportions  and  structure,  or  build,  of 
the  horse.  The  feet  are  then  to  be  examined  and  the  part  of 
the  shoe  struck  by  clickings  marked.  A  skillful  farrier  will 
then  be  able  to  determme  the  causes  and  the  remedies  for  each. 

If  the  horse  hits  the  heel  of  the  front  foot,  clip  oft"  the  heel 
of  that  shoe  on  the  angle  of  the  foot  on  the  ground  surface.  If 
he  hits  on  the  inside  web  at  the  toe,  take  the  weight  out  of  toe 
of  shoe  from  quarters  to  toe  on  both  sides,  leaving  the  weight 
from  quarters  to  heel.  If  he  hits  on  the  outer  quarter,  put  the 
drop  crease  on  the  outside.  If  he  hits  on  the  inside  web  of 
shoe,  concave  the  shoe  on  the  ground  surface  at  the  point 
touched.  If  the  head  is  carried  low,  check  it  up  so  as  to  lighten 
the  front  part ;  if  too  high,  check  down  with  standing  martin- 
gales to  add  weight.  If  the  breast  collar  is  too  low  on  the  point 
of  shoulders,  raise  it  up.  If  the  propelling  power  behind  is 
too  great  for  the  front  part,  shoe  with  a  five-ounce  shoe  heavier 
behind  than  in  front.  If  he  forges  at  a  certain  gait,  drive  over 
or  under  the  gait.  If  the  horse  be  a  "  dweller  "  with  his  front 
feet,  put  on  a  double  rolling-motion  shoe,  highest  at  the  quar- 
ters, gradually  thinning  the  shoe  from  quarters  to  toe,  then  from 
quarters  to  heel.  The  effect  of  such  a  shoe  will  be  to  quicken 
his  action  in  front. 

The  shoes  designed  for  the  hind  feet  should  in  all  cases  pro- 


FAULTY    CONFOKMATIOX    AND    MOVEMENT.  211 

ject  well  back  at  the  heels,  having  good,  long-heel  calkins. 
The  driver  or  farrier  should  be  able  to  judge  of  the  weight  of 
shoes  to  be  used.  I  have  used  four-calkin  hind  shoes  in  many 
cases  with  the  best  of  results. 

Speedy  Cutting. — This  is  caused  by  the  horse  being  un- 
evenly balanced.  Having  more  propelling  power  behind  than 
in  front — that  is,  the  front  feet  not  being  able  to  get  out  of  the 
way  of  the  hind  legs  as  they  pass,  the  outside  of  the  front  f^ot 
strikes  and  wounds  the  inside  of  the  shin  bone  in  the  hind  leg, 
frequently  causing  much  pain  and  soreness.  It  is  termed  "  speedy 
cutting,''  from  happening  while  the  horse  is  in  rapid  action.  It 
is  an  evident  fact  that  all  horses  with  bold,  lofty  knee  action 
are  not  speedy  cutters.  Those,  however,  who  travel  with  a  low^ 
gliding,  forward  movement,  like  Lady  Thorne,  are  called  "  daisy 
cutters,"  and  are  proverbially  afflicted  with  speedy  cutting  in 
rapid  motion.  To  overcome  this  defect,  it  is  necessary  to  equal- 
ize the  different  actions  of  the  parts  by  quickening  that  of  the 
front  and  slowing  that  of  the  hind.  This  can  only  be  done  in 
shoeing. 

As  there  are,  however,  but  few  trotting  horses  that  can  have 
their  toes  shortened,  since  it  would  have  a  tendency  to  make 
them  double  up  or  shorten  their  stride,  I  use  for  them  a  double 
rolling-motion  flat  shoe,  gradually  thinning  the  shoe  from 
quarters  to  heel  and  from  quarters  to  toe,  with  dropped  crease 
on  the  outer  quarters.  Such  a  shoe  will  allow  the  front  foot  to 
land  on  its  heels,  roll  over  the  toe  more  quickly,  and  get  out  of 
the  way  of  the  hind  legs.  -If  the  front  feet  or  tendons  are  sore, 
it  would  have  a  tendency  to  slow  the  front  action  of  the  horse 
in  landing,  as  he  fears  to  hit  the  ground.  In  such  cases  shorten 
the  toe  of  the  front  foot  as  much  as  safety  will  permit,  examine 
the  feet  as  well  as  the  splint  bones,  for,  if  soreness  is  present, 
it  will  have  a  tendency  to  retard  the  action  in  front.  If  the 
horse  is  a  long  strider  or  dweller,  apply  the  scoop-toed,  rolling- 


212  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

motion  or  the  plain  rolling-motion  shoe,  which,  being  rolled  in 
front,  will  assist  the  horse  in  getting  over  the  toe  of  the  foot 
quickly,  and  thus  get  out  of  the  way  of  the  other  parts.  In 
dressing  the  hind  feet,  lower  the  heels  as  much  as  safety  will 
permit,  keeping  the  front  part  of  the  toes  at  the  natural  angle, 
80  as  to  have  all  the  ground  surface  possible.  Apply  the  shoe. 
Fig.  139.  By  placing  long  heel  calkins  at  the  sides  of  the  heels, 
•or  allowing  the  shoe  to  extend  at  least  one-half  inch  longer  than 
the  heel  of  the  foot,  the  down  action  of  the  flexor  perforans  will 
be  lessened,  and  in  a  relative  degree,  the  quick-up  action  of  the 
foot  will  also  be  lessened.  The  weight  of  the  shoes  to  be  worn 
must  be  determined  accurately  by  the  driver  or  proprietor. 
I  have  often  shod  this  class  of  trotting  horses  with  front 
shoes  weighing  eleven  ounces,  and  with  hind  shoes  weighing 
rfifteen  ounces,  before  I  could  get  them  balanced  and  square  in 
their  gait. 

Running  horses  are  more  liable  to  obtain  speedy  cuts  than 
trotting  horses  ;  this  is  occasioned  principally  by  the  carrying 
of  weight  upon  their  backs,  the  weight  being  placed  more  di- 
rectly on  their  front  legs  than  on  their  hind  ones.  In  plating 
running  horses  to  overcome  this  difiiculty,  level  and  straighten 
the  front  feet,  having  the  heels  and  frog  of  an  even  bearing 
when  the  feet  are  placed  on  the  ground  ;  shoe  with  thin  three- 
quarter  tips,  beveling  the  outside  of  the  plate  from  the  ground 
to  the  sole-bearing  surface,  so  as  to  obviate  the  possibility  of 
the  leg  being  cut  by  the  shoe  in  passing.  The  punishment  of 
speedy  cutting  is  oftentimes  so  severe  that  the  race  is  lost  by  the 
horse  being  unable  to  withstand  it  without  his  speed  being  re- 
tarded more  or  less. 

Ankle,  Shin  and  Knee  Cutting. — In  ankle  or  shin  cutting, 
it  will  generally  be  observed  that  the  ankles  are  tilted  inward. 
Cutting  often  depends  weakness  or  leg  weariness,  and  is  liable 
to  happen  to  horses  when   driven  long  distances  or  when  they 


FAULTY  COXFORMATIOX  AXD  MOVEMENT. 


213 


are  carrying  heavy  shoes.  Contraction  and  also  soreness  in  the 
splint  bones  will  cause  a  horse  to  cut,  which  almost  always  is  the 
result  of  improper  shoeing  and  bad  management  of  the  feet. 
All  can  be  stopped  by  properly  leveling  and  balancing  the  foot, 
and  the  appliance  of  a  suitable  shoe.  When  the  position  of  the 
foot  is  faulty,  it  must  be  ob- 
vious that  the  remedy  con- 
sists in  altering  its  improper 
position  and  straightening 
it,  as  much  as  can  be  accu- 
rately done,  according  to 
the  instructions  given  with 
Fig.  23,  Chap.  IV. 

When  the  toe  is  the 
part  which  inflicts  the  wound 
use  a  square-toed  shoe  like 
1^0.  147,  shown  in  case  of 
shoes,  page  286.  This  will 
let  the  foot  break  over  the 
toe  square,  and  in  straight 
going  or  close-gaited  horses, 
the  foot  will  generally  pass 
the  knee  without  hitting. 

Sprains  of  the  Ten- 
dons.— As  its  name  implies,    ground    surface    to    front  of    toe  at    B. 

,1  •  1    •    i   •  •    •  C,    C,   Heel    calks   to    be    beveled    from 

this   complaint  is  an  miury      '       ,       ,       ,         ,,  u      • 

^  "^      ''     ground  surface  to  wall-bearing  surface. 

to  the  back  sinew,  from  the 

effects  of  overtaxation.  Work-horses  are  liable  to  become  so 
affected,  though  it  occurs  more  frequently  in  the  running  and 
trotting  horses,  by  reason  of  their  immense  strides,  the  force  of 
which  has  a  tendency — when  prolonged  to  a  certain  extent — 
to  cause  the  tendons  to  become  swollen  and  inflamed. 

For  horses  suffering  with  sore  tendons,  the  four-calkin  roll- 


FlG.  101.  FRONT  FOOT  FOUR  CALKIN  SHOE, 
TO  BE  USKD  FOR  THE  RELIEF  OF  SORENESS 
IN  THE  FLEXOR  PERFORANS,  OR  CASES  OF 
QUARTER  CRACK,  WHERE  TOE  AND  HEEL 
CALKINS  ARE  REQUIRED,  AS  WELL  AS  FOR 
SORENESS  AT  THE  TOE  AND  FOR  SPLIT  FOOT 
IN    FRONT. 

To  be  beveled  from  A,  A,  to  B  ;  also 
from  C,  C,  to  wall-bearing  surface  at  heel. 
A,  A,  Front  toe  calks  to  be  beveled  off  on 


21-4  SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 

ing  motion  shoe,  illustrated  on  the  preceding  page,  will  be  found 
a  successful  remedy. 

The  shoe  should  extend  well  back  at  the  heels,  the  calkins 
being  at  least  one-half  inch  higher  at  the  heels  than  at  the  sides 
of  the  toe,  where  it  should  be  well  beveled  on  the  ground  sur- 
face, in  order  that  the  horse  may  be  enabled  to  "  get  over  "  the 
toe  of  his  foot  with  but  little  strain  on  the  flexor  perforans. 

I  have  also  found  the  scoop-toed  rolling-motion  shoe  very 
successful  in  the  cases  of  trotting  and  running  horses.  The  feet 
should  always  be  well  leveled  and  straightened,  and  the  toes 
shortened  as  much  as  safety  wall  permit.  A  preliminary  appli- 
cation of  warm-water  bandages  may  be  found  beneficial. 

Elbow  and  Arm  Cutting. — When  a  horse  has  too  much 
freedom  in  the  action  of  the  knee  of  his  fore  leg,  which  causes 
it  to  bend  under  him,  when  lifted,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  strike 
and  bruise  the  limb,  it  is  called  elbow  or  arm  cutting.  To  over- 
come this  difficulty,  the  heel  of  the  foot  should  be  pared  as  low 
as  it  can  be  safely  done.  The  toe,  on  the  contrary,  should  be 
left  long.  The  shoe  should  be  light,  for  the  lighter  the  shoe  the 
less  liability  there  is  of  the  elbow  or  arm  being  cut.  The  web 
of  the  shoe  should  be  narrow,  especially  from  the  quarters  to 
the  toe.  The  shoe  should  be  well  concaved  on  its  ground  sur- 
face, from  the  heel  to  the  toe,  particularly  so  in  the  case  of 
horses  who  cut  or  hit  the  arm  or  elbow  with  the  heel.  (It  may 
here  be  observed  that  the  greater  number  of  horses  cut  their 
elbows  with  the  toe.) 

Adjustable  Toe  Weight. — The  devices  next  shown  in  Figs. 
102  and  103,  for  balancing  the  action  of  horses  has  many  features 
which  will  recommend  it  to  attention.  I  have  used  it  for  many 
years,  and  it  has  proven  to  give  satisfaction  in  all  cases.  The 
foJJ.€rtving  is  the  ml^Bl^d  of  adjusting  it  to  the  foot : 


FAULTY    CONFORMATION    AND    MOVEMENT. 


9^  r. 


Fig.  102.  adjustable  toe  weight. 


Ill  case  the  horse's 

stride  is  short,  place  the 

weight  over  No.  4,  as 

shown  in  diagram  ;  by 

so  doing,  the  weight  is 

at  the  extremity  of  the 

toe  and  muscle  of  the 

arm.     In  case  one  foot 

is  lon2:er  in  the  stride 

than    the    other,    place 

the  weight  on  the  short 

striding  foot  over  l^o. 

.  A,  Ground  surface  of  drop-crease  shoe  attached 

4,  and  on  the  long  strid-  ^^  foot,  i^  2, 3, 4,  Points  to  which  weight  is  ad- 
ing  foot  over  No.  3.  justed. 
Drive  the  horse,  and  if  the 
stride  is  not  equal  place  the 
weight  on  the  long  striding 
foot  over  letter  2.  Drive 
the  horse  a  few  davs,  and  if 
this  does  not  have  the  de- 
sired eflect,  and  his  stride  is 
not  equal,  place  a  weight  on 
the  short  striding  foot  at 
No.  4,  two  or  three  ounces 
heavier  than  the  other.  The 
great  success  of  this  weight 

depends  on  the   skillfulness       ^^^  ^^^g   ^^^und  tread  op  shoe  shown 
of    the    driver    to    properly    in  Fig.  102  to  prevent  arm  and  elbow 

,.     ,    .,  ,  ,.        cutting. 

adjust  it  so    as  to  equalize 

the  stride  of  the  horse.  A,  Toe  calk  around  the  curve  of  shoe 

.        ,,  ^        ,  in  front  to  be  from  li  in.  to  |  in.   high. 

Another    great    advan-    ^^  ^^  ^^  ^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^  .^^^^  ^.^^  ^^ 

tage    of  this   weight    is  that    shoe  and  on  outside  at  heels.     C,  Spur  in 

,1       -1  „         r^^j-    front  of  shoe  carrying  weight,  as  shown 
you  can  give  the  horse  toot  . ,      .       ^.     r..     ^  -r^  \         , 

•^  =>  on  Side  view,  Fig.  81.     D,  D,  Inner  face 

action  or  take  it   away,  by    of  toe  weight. 


216 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


the  raising  or  lowering  of 
the  weights  on  the  foot.  By 
placing  both  weights  over 
No.  1,  the  weights,  being 
placed  over  the  center  of  the 
foot,  wdll  prevent  the  foot 
from  bending  or  doubling  at 
the  toe,  and  will  stop  the 
worst  cases  of  elbow  and 
arm  cutting. 

Ankle,  Shin  and  Knee 
Fig.  104.  right  front  foot  shoe,  to  pre-     Hitting. — As  a  rule   horses 

VENT    ANKLE,  SHIN    AND    KNEE    HITTING.  _£t.  1     i    • 

^   ^      .  .  ,    ,  1       ,    X       X       ,     SO  aiiected,  hit  one  les:  or  the 

C,  Starting  point  of  bevel  at  center  of  '  » 

toe  to  a  thin  feather  edge  at  B,  then     other  by  striking  it  with  the 
gradually  lessening  the  bevel  around  the      ^  ^^e  foot  from  the  point 

outside  rim  of  shoe  to  A.  _      _ 

of  the  inside  toe  to   about 

the  heel  nail.     By  beveling  oft"  the   shoe  on  the  outside  rim, 

therefore,  as  shown  in  Fig.  104, 
from  C  to  B,  at  middle  of  toe, 
to  A,  at  last  nail  hole,  will  pre- 
vent any  thing  like  an  inward 
dip  as  the  foot  leaves  the 
ground,  and  will  cause  the 
ankle  and  knee  to  be  carried 
outward  from  the  opposite  foot 
and  thus  avoid  becoming 
bruised  or  cut. 

Fig.  105  shows  a  hind  foot 
shoe     intended      for     extreme 

cases  of  ankle   hitting,   where 
Fig.  105.   left   hind    foot    shoe    for     ^^^  j^^j.^^   j^-^g  ^-^j^    ^^^  j^^g-j^ 

point  of  the  toe.     This  occurs 
calkin.  with  horses  that  stand  in  the 


ankle  hitting. 
A,  Inside  toe  calkin.    B,  Inside  heel 


FAULTY    CONFORMATIOX    AND    MOVEMENT. 


2ir 


faulty  position  illustrated  in  Fig.  95,  Xo.  5,  having  their  hocks 
turned  outwardly  and  consequently  their  toes  turned  in.  In 
this  case,  a  toe-calk  should  he  placed  on  the  inside,  at  the  strik- 
ing point  of  the  foot,  and  also  a  side  heel  calkin.  This  will 
prevent  any  thing  like  an  inward  dip  as  the  foot  leaves  the 
ground,  and  sufficient  to  carry  it  beyond  the  ankle  of  the  oppo- 
site foot. 


Speed  Shoes. — This  variation  from  the  ordinary  bar  shoe 
was  designed  to  close  up  the  hind  action,  where  the  movement 

was  so  wide  that,  at  full  speed, 
the  horse  frequently  would  strike 
his  hocks  in  passing,  and  more 
frequently  tear  off  the  hind  hock 
boots.  When  shod  with  this 
shoe,  the  shoe  being  on  the  in- 
side of  the  wall,  this  excessive 
straddling  was  obviated  and  the 
hocks  were  at  once  relieved  of 
their  boots.  The  more  the  foot 
is  raised  on  the  inside,  the  closer 
becomes  the  hind  action.  A, 
shows  the  bar  across  tlie  frog, 
from  heel  to  toe.  B,B,  B,  shows 
rivet  holes,  through  which  to 
fasten  the  leather  padding  be- 
tween the  shoe  and  the  wall.  C, 
indicates  the  heel  calkin,  and  D  the  outside  section  of  the  wall. 
The  shoe  may  be  forged  as  light  as  the  hind  action  may  require, 
and  it  makes  a  neater  finish  to  cut  the  leather  padding  to  the 
inside  and  outside  margin  of  the  shoe  and  bar,  after  it  has  been 
nailed  to  the  foot.  When  made  and  fitted  according  to  these 
instructions,  not  only  will  hock  interference  be  avoided,  but  the 


Fig.  106.    bar  shoe — variation  for 
correcting  wide  movement. 

A,  Bar  across  frog. 


218 


SGIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


speed  of  the  horse  decidedly  increased  and  his  endurance  ^^reatly 
extended. 

This  shoe  has  been  so  beneficial  to  speed  that  I  have  termed 
it  the  "  Record  Breaker." 
As  the  horse  increases  his 
speed,  he  changes  his 
gait,  and  as  no  one  style 
of  shoe  was  known  which 
would  be  suitable  to  all 
gaits,  I  invented  this  shoe 
for  a  low-gaited  horse 
such  as  ISTancy  Hanks. 
My  theory  is  that  the 
thinner  the  shoe  is,  the 
longer  will  be  the  stride  ; 
the  lighter  the  shoe,  the 
lighter  the  footfall.  The 
wider   the   w^eb,  the    less 


Fig.  107.     record  breaker — front  shoe. 


Fig.  108.    record  breaker — hind 

SHOE. 


the  shoe  sinks  in  the  ground, 
and  the  less  liable  the  foot  is 
to  cup  and  slip  back  as  it  leaves 
the  ground.  This  shoe  is  cut 
in  grooves  straight  from  toe  to 
heel,  about  three-sixteenths  of 
an  incb  deep.  This  will  pre- 
vent the  foot  from  slipping 
sideways.  The  grooves  cut 
sideways  and  at  right  angles 
to  the  former  will  prevent  the 
foot  from  slipping  backward 
as  it  leaves  the  ground.  Judg- 
ing from  my  experience  in 
shoeing  speed  horses,  slipping 
sideways  is  very  tiresome,  and 


i 


FAULTY    COXFORMATIOX    AXD    MOVEMENT. 


219 


therefore  in  affording  a  horse  a  firm  foothold,  as  the  foot  lands 
upon  and  leaves  the  ground,  he  is  inspired  with  great  confi- 
dence, he  can  hold  his  speed  from  start  to  finish  more  uniformly, 
and  he  will  win  many  a  race  which  he  would  have  lost  when 
wearing  the  common,  old  style  of  flat  shoes. 

With  this  st^'le  of  hind  shoe,  it  will  be  impossible  for  the 
hind  foot  to  slip  backward  or  sideways,  as  it  lands  upon  or 
leaves  the  ground.  The  hind  legs  are  mainly  the  propelling 
powers  of  the  horse.  This  shoe,  as  wnll  be  seen,  is  cut  in  dia- 
mond shapes  on  the  ground  tread.  The  cuts  are  to  be  made 
three-sixteenths  of  an  inch  deep.  This  style  of  shoe  is  adapted 
to  horses  with  long  pasterns.  In  my  experience  I  have  found  it 
to  be  of  decided  advantage  to  the  horse  with  long  pasterns  to 
shoe  him  behind  with  a  long  extension  of  a  shoe  backward. 
The  shoe  then  serves  as  a  brace  or  stay  to  support  the  back 
tendons. 

In  shoeing  a  speed  horse,  we  must  be  governed  by  the 
length  of  the  pastern,  and  use  such  a  shoe  as  will  suit  and  assist 

his  gait  and  footfall.  If  the 
pastern  is  long,  let  the  shoe 
extend  back  of  the  heel; 
if  it  is  short  and  upright, 
let  the  shoe  extend  just  the 
length  of  the  heel. 


This  shoe  (Fig.  109)  is 
desig-ned  for  a  horse  with  a 
long  pastern.  In  some  cases 
small  heel  calks  can  1)e 
turned  upon  the  heels,  as 
slipping  sideways  when  lie 
lands,  or  l);ickward  when 
the  foot  leaves  the  ground, 
is  very  tiresome.  The  scoop 
commencing  at  the  toe,   as 


Fig.  109.     record  breaker — hind  shoe, 
with  grab  toe. 


A  to  B,  Scoop. 


15 


220 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


A,  should  be  gradually  thinned  down  to  the  inner  edge,  B,  thus 
leaving  a  sharp  catch  at  the  toe.  I  have  used  this  shoe  on 
hard  tracks  with  the  best  of  success ;  have  known  the  slipping 
defect,  generally  confined  to  the  hind  feet,  to  be  reduced  to  a 
minimum,  and  the  si)eed  on  a  hard  track  increased  from  one  to 
three  seconds. 

The  importance  of  this  shoe  can  not  be  overstated.     Its  use 
is  to  prevent  the  foot  from  slipping  backward,  thus  tending  to 
strain    the   tendons    as    well    as   to   produce    the    knee-sprung 
troubles.    The  toe  of 
this  shoe    is   gradu- 
ally beveled  to  a  thin 
edge  from  the  outer 
to  the  inner  surface 
of    the     shoe,     and 
when    this    shoe    is 
worn  by  speed  horses 
it  prevents  the  fi'ont 
foot     from    slipping 
backward  as  it  leaves 
the   ground.     I    use 
this  style  of  shoe  on 
speed  horses  for  sore 
tendons     and     the     Fig.  110.    improved  grab  shoe.    A,  Ground  tread 
knee-sprung     defect.  °^«^°«-    B,B.  Tips  of  leather-heel  of  toe. 

This  shoe  can  be  made  as  light  as  the  foot  requires,  as  well  as 
the  leg  and  the  gait  of  the  horse.  All  horses  that  are  sore  in 
the  back  tendons  require  elevation  at  the  heels  to  relieve  the 
sore  tendon  at  each  footfall.  Take  thick  sole  leather  and  rivet 
on  shoe  where  rivet  holes  show  in  shoe,  at  heels  and  quarters. 
Then  cut  the  leather  out  on  inside  of  shoe,  thus  lightening  its 
weight.  Afterward  gradually  remove  the  leather  by  commenc- 
ing to  thin  it  from  the  heels  down  to  a  feather  edge  at  the  toe, 
on  each  side  of  quarters.     By  so   doing  the  heels  will  be  ele- 


FAULTY    CONFORMATIOX    AND    MOVEMENT. 


221 


vated  and  the  sore  tendons  greatly  relieved.  B,  B,  shows  how 
leather  is  to  be  tapered  from  heel  up  to  toe  ;  C,  shows  the 
leather  and  ground  tread  of  shoe.  The  use  of  this  shoe  will 
afford  the  greatest  ease  and  comfort  to  the  horse  at  each  foot- 
fall, when  up  to  speed.  The  elevation  with  the  leather  must  be 
governed  by  circumstances,  some  inflamed  tendons  requiring 
more  than  others. 


Shoes  for  Quarter  Crack. — The  illustration  herewith  is  a 
side  view  of  foot  and  pasterns,  with  lower  part  of  cannon  bone, 
the  foot  properly  balanced  and  the  bar  shoe  illustrated  in  Fig. 
112  nailed  to  the  foot.     This  style  of  bar  shoe  I  designed  for 

quarter  crack  where  toe 
and  heel  calkins  were  re. 
quired.  Quarter  crack  is 
one  of  the  many  diseases 
which  horses  are  subject- 
ed to  who  travel  day  in 
and  out  upon  artificially 
paved  streets  and  roads. 
The  illustration  of  this 
particular  case  would  not 
do  for  all  cases,  of  course. 
This  style  of  shoe,  how- 
ever, will  illustrate  this 
case,  and  be  a  guide  to 
any  others  which  may 
come  to  the  attention  of 
the  reader. 

In  this  instance,  the 
reader    will    turn    his   at- 

SHOE   FOR  QUARTER  CRACK,  SET  ON        teutioU     fifSt    tO     the     Fig. 
WELL-BALAXCED    FOOT.  _  _  _ 

.   ^        „      .«  -,,   TT    1     ,,  .         .  .        111?   showinsr    side    view 
A,  Toe  calk.     B,  B,  Heel  calkins  set  to  '  * 

break  the  jar.  of  the  shoe  shown  on  the 


22J 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


foot.       Second      illustration 

shows     the     shoe,      ground 

tread   and   toe    calkin,    and 

third  shows  the  wall  bearing 

and  where  shoe   is   beveled 

to  avoid  the  quarter  crack. 
The  rule  of  making  the 

shoe  is  to  bevel  it  from  wall 

bearing  wherever   it    comes 

opposite  a  quarter  crack  on 

the  foot.     This  will  prevent 

dirt   from    wedging    in    be- 
tween the  shoe  and  the  wall 

of  the  foot,  and  at  each  foot-  -pie.  112. 

fall   the   dirt    will    jar   out. 

A  clip  is  required  for  draft  horses. 

In  paring  the  foot,  bear  in   mind  always  to  pare  the  outer 

edges  of  the  quarter  crack  as    deep  as   the   sensitive   laminse. 

After  paring  the  foot  and  fitting  the  shoe,  rivet  a  piece  of  sole 

leather  to  the  shoe,  covering 
bottom  of  the  foot,  at  three 
rivet  holes,  as  in  illustration 
(Fig.  113).  Before  nailing 
the  shoe  to  the  foot,  take 
fat  pickled  pork,  fill  the  bot- 
tom of  foot  with  long  slices 
thereof,  pressing  them  well 
into  the  commissures  with 
the  hand.  After  nailing  tlie 
shoe  to  the  foot,  take  Recipe 
No.  2  made  warm  ;  dip  cot- 
ton into  the  salve,  cover  the 
afi'ected  parts  well  with  the 
Fig.  113.    A,  Clip  on  point  of  shoe.  salve     and     cotton.       Then 


FAULTY    CONFORMATIOX    AND    MOVEMENT. 


223 


bandage  the  cotton  to  the  foot  and  stand  the  feet  in  the  soak- 
ing  tub,  with  warm  water  six  to  eight  inches  deep,  for  one  or 
two  hours.  After  taking  the  horse  out  of  the  soaking  tub,  bet- 
ter apply  the  soaking  swabs  around  tlie  pastern,  kept  wet  with 
warm  water,  for  a  few  days.  I  have  cured  the  worst  cases  with 
this  shoe  and  treatment,  and  worked  the  horse  daily. 

Fig.  114  shows  a  special  shoe  for  quarter  crack  for  running 

horses.  I  have  been  very 
successful  with  this,  using 
it  upon  running  horses 
where,  in  their  early 
stages,  they  can  not  run 
up  to  their  full  speed, 
shod  with  bar  shoes.  The 
shoe  is  very  easily  made, 
as  can  be  noted  in  the  il- 
lustration, by  bending,  as 
at  C.  In  paring  the  foot, 
the  wall  or  horn  should 
be  removed  so  as  to  allow 
the  shoe  to  set  snugly  up 
to  the  foot,  as  shown  in 
the  diagram.  Placing 
nails  in  the  heel  of  shoe 
will  hold  the  wall  of 
the  foot  permanently  as 
the  horse  springs  over 
the  toe  in  his  forward 
movement.  Fig.  114,  open  shoes;  A,  A,  ground  tread;  B,  B, 
wall  bearing  ;  C,  set-off  in  shoe.  Side  view  of  foot  shows  :  A, 
quarter  crack;  B,  shoe  set  off  in  front  of  the  ground  tread 
of  quarter  crack.  A  full  front  view  of  this  shoe  is  given  in  the 
illustration  in  ease  of  shoes,  page  284,  iSTo.  103.  After  placing 
this  shoe  upon  the  foot,  use  my  foot  salve,  white  cotton  being 


i 


|iliaiiimiii|liiJimiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimii/~ 

Fig. 114.     shoe  for  quarter  crack. 
A,  Quarter  crack.     B,  Shoe. 


224 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


saturated  with  it,  large  enough  to  cover  affected  parts,  Avarm 
and  apply  the  salve.  Place  also  a  good  linen,  bandage  around 
the  coronet  and  under  the  heels,  so  as  to  hold  the  dressing 
firmly  to  the  affected  parts,  and  heat  in  well  with  a  warm  iron. 
Stand  the  foot  in  the  soaking  tub  filled  with  warm  water  six 
inches  deep,  for  one  or  two  hours,  and  afterward  use  the  soak- 
ing swabs  around  the  pasterns  and  foot.  Keep  well  wet  with 
warm  water  for  a  few  days,  or  until  the  soreness  disappears. 

This  shoe  is  designed  for  quarter  crack,  where  neither  toe 
nor  heel  calkins  are  required.  This  treatment  I  have  used  with 
unvarying  success  in  the  case  of  speed  horses  that  have  bsen 
driven  over  hard  tracks 
and  roads.  If  horses' 
feet  are  kept  properly 
balanced,  the  wall  pliable 
and  flexible,  and  the  hoof 
shod  with  shoes  suited  to 
the  work  required,  there 
will  be  little  danger  of 
quarter  crack.  The  treat- 
ment is  as  follows :  In 
old,  long-standing  cases, 
one  side  of  the  wall  will 
overlap  the  other.  In 
such  instance,  remove  all 
the  fractured  and  loose 
w^ali  as  deep  as  the  podo- 
phyllous  tissues.  Be  care- 
ful not  to  draw  blood. 
The  shoe  is  set  down  to 
half  its  thickness  in  front 
of  the  crack,  being  grad- 
ally  drawn  thinner  as  the 
Jieel  is  approached.    Then 


Fig.  115.  side  view  of  hoof  prepared, 
balanced,  axdshod  for  quarter  crack, 
■where  ko  toe  nor  heel  calkins  are 
reulired. 

A,  A,  "Wall  removed  under  crack.     B, 
Quarter  crack. 


l^AULTY    COXFORMATION^    AND    MOVEMENT. 


225 


punch  two  small  nail  holes 
in  heel  of  shoe,  as  shown  in 
diagram.  The  shoe  should 
lie  easily  on  the  wall  hack 
of  the  quarter  crack.  After 
the  foot  has  been  shod  apply 
the  foot  salve  and  remedy 
as  heretofore  prescribed. 
Cover  the  quarter  crack  and 
the  coronet  with  the  white 
cotton  thoroughly  saturated 
with  the  salve.  Apply  the 
linen  bandage  well  around 
the  whole  foot,  so  as  to  hold 
the  dressinsr  to  the  wounded 
parts.     Warm   the  salve   in 

well  with    the   iron,    made   warm    for   this   purpose.     Observe 

these  instructions  and  a  permanent  cure  can  be  efl'ected. 

Fis:.  116  is  a  front  view  of  a  shoe  which  I  have  used  in 

a  great  many   cases  of   quarter    crack  with   most   satisfactory 

results. 


Fig.  116.    shoe  for  quarter  crack. 
A,  Set-off,  one-half  thickness. 


Rate  of  Speed  of  Trotters  and  Pacers. — I  give  here  a 
table  showing  the  distance  covered 'per  second  by  a  horse  when 
going  at  speeds  varying  from  a  2:00  to  a  2:30  gait.  The  table 
given  is  believed  to  be  a  substantially  correct  compilation  of  the 
figures. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  the  distance  covered  by  the  horse 
when  going  at  a  rate  of  speed  of  from  2:30  to  2:20  there  is  an 
approximate  increase  of  three  inches  per  second  for  each  addi- 
tional second's  lowering  of  the  speed  rate,  while  in  the  speed 
rate  between  2:10  and  2:00  the  increase  amounts  to  four  and 
one-tenth  inches  per  second.  A  horse  going  a  mile  in  two 
minutes  would  distance  Martha  Wilkes,  Palo  Alto  and  Maud  S., 


226 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


1 


Rate  of  Speed. 

Distance 
PER  Second. 

Rate  of  Speed. 

Distance 
PER  Second. 

Feet. 

In. 

Feet. 

In. 

9-30           

35 
36 
36 
36 
37 
37 
37 
38 
38 
38 
38 

2 

5 
8 
11 
2 
5 
8 

's 

6 
9 

2:15 

39 
39 
39 
40 
40 
41 
41 
■       42 
42 
44 

9-Of^ 

2:14 

4 

2'^4 

2:13    

8 

2-'';! 

9-12 

9-00 

2:10 

7 

2-91 

2:08| 

2:20 

2:08 

2:05 

3 

''•19 

3 

2:18 

2:04 

7 

2-17 

2:00 

2:16 

and  have  something  to  spare,  and  would  leave  jSTancy  Hanks 
and  Mascot,  the  fleetest  of  the  present  day,  about  seven  lengths 
to  the  rear.  Railroad  express  train,  one  mile  a  minute,  eighty- 
eight  feet  a  second,  is  a  good  comparison. 


SPECIFIC    AXD    REMEDIAL    SHOEING.  227 


CHAPTER  IX. 
SPECIFIC    AND   REMEDIAL  SHOEING. 

ITS  PURPOSE  AND  SCOPE  DELINEATED. 

The  special  purposes  of  shoeing  will  be  considered  under 
this  head  as  applying  to  "  all  sorts  and  conditions  "  of  feet — 
especially  defective  and  diseased  conditions — for  which  certain 
merits  are  claimed  for  many  diiierent  styles  of  shoes,  in  remedy- 
ing or  curing  the  special  defects  against  which  they  are  directed. 
No  one  need  be  told  that  in  operating  upon  feet  of  this  kind, 
the  highest  discretion  of  the  farrier  is  called  upon,  for  it  is  not 
the  application  of  a  given  style  of  shoe  to  the  foot  in  a  given 
way,  but  it  is  the  scientific  adaptation  of  a  special  kind  of  shoe, 
varied  for  special  purposes,  to  suit  different  conditions  of  the 
foot,  with  a  view  of  securing  certain  beneficial  results.  Thus 
regarded,  this  section  of  my  subject  becomes  withal  one  of  the 
most  interesting  phases  of  all  the  branches  of  shoeing. 

There  are  a  large  number  of  artificers  who  make  horseshoe- 
ing a  profession,  who  ofler  convincing  testimony  of  having 
mastered  the  principles  of  their  art  (as  proved  by  their  skill 
in  this  department  of  it),  that  I  should  doubtless  have  made  an 
exception  in  their  favor  in  my  strictures  on  the  careless  bun- 
glers who  belittle  the  importance  of  the  profession  and  unmake 
the  well-deserved  reputations  of  the  more  finished  artists  in  the 
business. 


228  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

In  the  development  of  that  '•  paragon  of  horseflesh  " — the 
trotter — the  matter  of  shoeing  for  specific  purposes  has  received 
more  attention  at  the  hands  of  all  classes  of  men,  and  has  made 
more  progress  and  achieved  greater  triumphs  in  American  than 
in  any  other  land. 

This  is  a  department  of  the  farrier's  art  that  ranks  with 
the  best  and  most  ingenious  of  other  mechanical  arts,  and  is 
justly  entitled  to  the  highest  praise  that  can  be  bestowed 
upon  it. 

I  have  devised  many  different  styles  of  shoes  admirably  ef- 
fective for  leveling  and  perfecting  the  action  and  the  gait  of 
horses,  as  well  as  for  removing  the  cause  and  thereby  healing 
the  effect  of  various  foot  ailments,  but  as  many  of  them  are 
iipplicable — in  a  large  measure — to  horses  used  solely  for  speed 
purposes,  any  attempt  at  a  complete  classification  at  this  time  is 
precluded  by  the  limits  assigned  for  this  work.  I  will,  therefore, 
confine  myself  to  a  selection  of  such  patterns  as  may  be  re- 
garded the  most  useful  for  the  purpose  in  view,  though  the  next 
succeeding  chapter  will  contain  an  assembly  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy  other  forms  of  shoes,  all  enumerated  and  described 
for  convenient  reference. 

When  rightly  made  and  applied  as  directed,  any  of  these 
shoes  will  prove  potent  auxiliaries  in  assisting  to  relieve  the 
faults  or  troubles  for  which  they  are  especially  designed  or  in- 
tended, as  explained  in  each  instance — and  this  applies  to  the 
bigher  breeds  of  horses,  as  well  as  to  others  whose  lot  is  cast  in 
the  humbler,  if  more  useful  walks  of  life. 

Any  correspondence  or  inquiries  addressed  to  me  relative 
to  the  matters  in  question,  will  receive  prompt  and  careful  at- 
tention at  my  hands. 


SPECIFIC    AXD    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


229 


Fig.  117.   original   centennial  shoe, 
designed  by  s.  t.  harris. 


Centennial  Shoe,  No.  1. — 
Fig.  117,  is  one  of  the  many 
I  exhibited  at  the  Centennial 
Exposition  at  Philadelphia  in 
1876.  It  was  desio;ned  bv  Mr. 
S.  T.  Harris,  of  Cincinnati. 
The  slioe  derives  its  name  from 
the  year  in  which  it  was  in- 
nted  and  exhibited,  and  it 
has  been  in  use  a  long  time, 
with  very  gratifying  success. 

It  conforms  more  to  the 
shape  of  the  foot  than  any  shoe 
ever  used.  The  wings,  A,  A, 
bear  evenly  on  the  bars  of  the  foot,  aflbrding  the  greatest  pos- 
sible bearing  surface  to  the  heels,  and  serve  to  distribute  equally 
over  the  whole  ground  surface  of  the  foot  the  concussion  sus- 
tained, which,  by  reason  of  the  position  of  the  heels,  is  greatest 
at  this  point. 

After  the  Centennial  shoe  has  been  worn  for  a  few  davs  and 
then  removed  from  the  foot,  the  inclination  and  position  of  the 
wings  afford  a  useful  and  valuable  deduction.  The  question 
has  long  been  mooted  among  writers  and  farriers,  what  part  of 
the  foot  expands  the  hoof,  whether  the  wall,  the  bars,  or  the 
frog.  Eminent  authorities  have  given  this  active  agency  in  turn 
to  each  one  of  the  members  I  have  mentioned,  but  the  inclina- 
tion of  the  wings  of  a  worn  Centennial  shoe  indicates  an  active 
agency  of  the  bars  in  co-operating  with  the  other  parts  of  the 
foot  that  have  not  heretofore  received  adequate  consideration. 
The  wnngs  of  the  shoe  not  only  fall  out  in  their  bearings  to  the 
extreme  points  of  the  bars,  but  they  are  careened  outwardly,  the 
inside  branches  being  higher  than  the  outside  branches,  thus 
showing  by  their  outward  inclination  that  the  bars  have  an  ac- 
tive and  constant  agency  in  keeping  the  foot  normally  expanded. 


230 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


As  a  hoof  expander,  therefore,  we  derive  from  the   Centennial 
shoe  one  of  its  most  valuable  uses. 

Centennial  Shoe,  No.  2. 
— Fig.  118.  This  shoe,  also 
exhibited  at  the  Centennial 
Exposition,  conforms  as  closely 
as  possible  to  the  natural  shape 
of  the  hoof,  and  places  the 
pressure  just  where  nature  de- 
mands. Especially  is  it  bene 
ficial  to  the  trotting  horse  that 
requires  toe  weights  to  balance 
his  actions,  because  it  is  heavy 
in  front  and  operates  power- 
fully in  assisting  the  extensor 
to  lengthen  the  stride.  When  harris. 
a  shoe  of  this  pattern  weighing        A,  A,   Bevel   around   inner  rim    of 


Fig.  lis.     MODIFIED  FORM  CENTENNIAL 
TOE-WEIGHT     SHOE,     DESIGNED     BY     S.    T. 


sixteen  ounces  is  lifted  bv  the 


shoe  on  ground  surface.    B,  B,  Grooves 


at  heels  to  obtain  bar  pressure. 
heel,  it  seems  to  weigh  at  least 

two    pounds.     The    inner    rim  on  ground  surface  is  to  be  well 

concaved,  as  shown  by  letters,  A,  A,  the  heels  to  be  swedged 

out  with  a  round,  blunt,  fullering  tool,  as  shown  in  B,  B,  so  as 

to  get  good  heel  and  bar  pressure. 

In  applying  this  style  of  shoe  to  a  horse  inclined  to  mix  and 
shift  his  gait,  bear  in  mind  to  leave  a  long  toe.  Three  nails  in 
each  quarter  is  sufficient  to  hold  the  shoe  to  the  foot.  This  shoe 
will  produce  most  satisfactory  results,  if  properly  applied. 

Centennial  Shoe,  No.  3. — Fig.  119,  on  next  page,  is  another 
modified  form  of  the  Centennial  shoe  before  described,  and  with 
the  others  was  exhibited  by  me  at  the  Centennial  Exposition. 
It  is  more  easily  made,  yet  embraces  the  same  principle  of  bar 
pressure.  It  can  be  made  from  any  ordinary  flat  shoe,  the  wings 
to  be  swedged  out  solidly  by  means  of  a  blunt,  round,  fullering 


I 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


231 


tool,  until  they  extend  over 
the  bars,  as  shown  at  A,  A,  A, 
A.  This  style  of  shoe  I  con- 
sider to  be  of  especial  advan- 
tage to  recover  the  wirin2:-in 
of  the  crusts  at  the  heels.  By 
following  the  wall  close  up  to 
the  sides  of  the  frog,  it  obtains 
strong  bar  pressure,  and  gives 
the  fros:  free  access  to  the 
ground.  If  the  sole  of  the  foot 
evinces  a  tendency  to  be  flat 
Fig.  119.  another  modified  form  and  tender,  it  is  quite  necessary 
CENTENNIAL  SHOE,  DESIGNED  BY  s.  T.    ^^  pj-Qtect  it  from  lujury  until 

HARRIS. 

A,  A,  A,  A,  Grooves  deepening  and  it  becomes  strong.  The  only 
widening  toward  sole-bearing  surface,  ^ay  in  which  this  can  be  done 
is  by  adding  to  the  web  in  the  shoe.  As  the  sole  gradually  re- 
news itself  and  becomes  thicker,  reduce  the  width  of  the  shoe. 
In  two  or  three  shoeings,  the  foot  will  become  strong,  when  the 
narrow-w^ebbed  shoe  may 
be  resorted  to. 

Fig.  120.  To  make  shoe, 
take  a  steel  bar  Ij  by  f 
inches,  of  twice  the  length 
from  center  of  the  toe  to 
either  heel — otherwise  suf- 
ficiently long  to  extend  the 
required  distance  round 
the  foot.  Strike  a  center 
at  a  point  half  the  length 
from  toe  to  heel  on  each 

side.     Then  with  a  chisel, 

,       -,  ,1  u     +u„  Fig.  120.    raised   spring   bar   shoe,    to 

cut     down     through    the 

^  REDUCE    CONCUSSION    AND    SOFTEN  THE  STROKE 

middle  of  bar  each  way —     of  footfall. 


232 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


stopping  at  a  point  to  leave  material  enough  where  the  ends  of 
the  wings  unite  with  the  shoe,  then  cut  oft"  the  surplus  stock  in 
center  to  leave  the  wings  of  the  desired  length,  beginning  at  a 
distance  from  each  end,  equal  to  the  length  of  the  wings  de- 
sired, and  continue  to  the  required  distance  from  the  ends  of 
the  bars. 

Taper  the  wings  from  heels  to  points  and  bend  the  shoe  to 
the  form  of  the  foot.  Make  the  wings  conform  to  the  shape  of 
the  frog.  Then  fit  the  shoe  to  the  foot,  springing  the  wings 
gradually  from  heels  to  points  and  leaving  them  standing  one- 
half  inch  below  face  of  shoe.  I  have  tested  this  shoe  on  horses 
that  were  quite  sore  and  lame,  the  shoe  being  made  of  cast  steel, 
the  bars  being  sprung  down  from  the  heel  to  their  points  on  the 
ground  surface  about  one-half  inch  ;  this  will  soften  and  mellow 
the  jar.  The  shoe,  being  vrell  tempered,  will  allow  the  bars  to 
spring  with  the  horse's  weight, 
and  will  be  found  one  of  the 
best  devices  possible  to  soften 
and  relieve  the  effects  of  con- 
cussion when  the  horse  is  ten- 
der in  foot  or  tendons,  as  well 
as  to  quicken  the  action  in 
trotting,  leaving  the  frog  free 
and  unimpeded  to  perform  its 
important  functions  of  cushion- 
ing the  foot  and  shielding  the 
sensitive  parts  from  injury. 

The   benefit   of   this  shoe 
can  only  be  obtained  on  hard    Fig- 121.  front  foot  scoop-toe,  roll- 

,  ,  ING    MOTION    SHOE. 

roads  or  tracks. 

Fig.  121.      This  shoe  can  be         ^'  ^:  Co^^mencement  of   scoop  on 

each  side  of  toe.     B  to  C,  Direction  of 
readily  made.     It  begins  to  be    scoop  from  out  to  in.    C,  Point  where 

gradually  thinned  on  the  face    scoop  is  deepest.    D  to  D,  Bevel  from 

ground  surface  to  wall-bearing  surface 
at  A,  A,  until  the    centers  at    on  each  heel. 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


233 


Fig.  122.  front  foot  shoe,   known 

AS   THE    "  goldsmith    MAID    BAR    SHOE," 
HEART-SUNKEN    AND    DROP-CREASED. 


Fig.  123.  front  foot  shoe,  to  lessen 

KNEE  action,  SHORTEN  THE  STRIDE,  AND 
TO    PREVENT    FORGING. 

A,  A,  Concave  on  ground  surface 
around  toe.  B,  B,  B,  B,  Concave  on 
ground  surface  around  quarters.  C,  C, 
Outer  ground  surface  to  be  kept  flush 
■with  face  of  shoe. 


B,  C,  are  reached,  when  on 
its  outer  edge,  it  should  be 
not  more  than  two-thirds  its 
original  thickness,  dipping 
deeper  inwardly  toward  C^ 
where  it  should  be  quite 
thin.  The  eft'ect  of  this  will 
be  to  lessen  the  ground  sur- 
face of  the  foot,  and  quicken 
the  action  of  the  fore  leffs. 
This  shoe  will  also  be  found 
beneficial  for  horses  sore  in 
the  toes  and  tendons. 

Fig.  122.  This  shoe  is 
applicable  for  a  number  of 
diseases  of  the  foot,  such  a& 
weak  and  bruised  heels, 
quarter  cracks,  etc.  It  is 
also  used  extensively  among 
trotting  horses,  the  shoes  be- 
ing reduced  down  bo  light,, 
they  serve  to  keep  the  shoe 
from  spreading  on  the  foot, 
when  the  horse  is  in  violent 
action.  By  having  the  bar 
set  down  below  the  face  of 
the  shoe,  it  serves  the  same 
purpose  as  an  open  shoe. 
This  style  of  shoe  is  quite 
beneficial  for  long-striding 
horses,  as  they  land  mostly 
on  the  heels,  and  by  having 
the  shoe  thinned  well  back 
at  the  heel,  it  will  prevent 


234 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEIXG. 


the  foot  from  becoming  bruised.  I  believe  that  an  occasional 
change  to  the  open  shoe  will  be  beneficial  in  giving  the  foot 
more  active  use  of  the  frog. 

Fig.  123,  on  the  opposite  page,  illustrates  a  front  foot  shoe 
designed  to  prevent  forging,  to  lessen  knee  action  and  shorten 
the  stride. 

1.  For  forging,  if  the  hind  foot  hits  under  the  toe,  clip  out 
in  the  toe  as  shown  in  the  foregoing  diagram.  Lessening  the 
weight  from  quarters  to  the  toe  will  allow  the  horse  to  get  his 
foot  quicker  out  of  the  road  of  the  hind  foot,  thus  preventing 
this  defect. 

2.  If  the  horse  has  too  much  knee  action  and  stride,  taking 
the  weight  from  toe,  as  shown  opposite,  lessens  the  stride  and 
knee  action  and  serves  to  equalize  the  gait. 

In  either  case  the  shoe  is  to  be  gradually  thickened  from  A, 
A,  to  the  heels.  By  so  doing  the  front  foot  will  be  assisted  in 
getting  out  of  way  of  the 
hind  foot,  and  where  the  hind 
foot  hits  up  under  the  toe, 
forging  will  be  prevented. 

Fig.  124.  Horses  that 
paddle  do  so  by  reason  of 
the  faulty  position  of  the 
leg  and  foot.  Paddling  con- 
sists in  springing  from  the 
inside  toe  when  the  foot 
leaves  the  ground,  causing 
it  to  swing  out  from  the 
body.  The  shoe  (Fig.  124)' 
was  designed  to  assist  nature 
in  equalizing  the  weight, 
through  the  axis  of  the  leg 
and  foot,  and  is  shown  here 
from  the  ground  side. 


Fig.  124.  improved  non-paddling 
front   foot  shoe,   designed  by   s.  t. 

HARRIS. 

Bevel  outer  rim  of  shoe  from  inner 
A  to  a  thin  edge  at  outer  B,  gradually 
diminishing  the  bevel  to  outer  A,  back 
of  the  quarter. 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


235 


To  prevent  paddling,  place  as  wide  a  web  upon  the  inside 
branch  of  shoe  as  the  foot  will  admit  of.  The  inside  branch 
of  the  shoe  to  be  beveled  from  the  ground  surface  on  the  angle 
of  the  foot  from  toe  to  heel.  The  outside  branch  is  to  be  made  as 
light  as  possible.  Commence  to  bevel  from  A  to  B,  to  be  car- 
ried to  B  to  a  thin  edge,  as  shown  in  diagram.  This  shoe  has 
given  uniform  satisfaction  wherever  used  as  I  have  directed. 

Fig.  125.  I  use  this  shoe 
for  knee  sprung  and  sore  ten- 
dons. It  can  be  made  of  anv 
thickness  or  width  to  suit.  In- 
asmuch as  elevation  gives  re- 
lief to  knee  sprung  and  sore 
tendons,  thickness  at  the  heels 
must  be  iudg-ed  of  accordins: 
to  the  necessities  of  the  case. 
Select  the  bar  required  and 
bend  it  around  center,  shape 
ft  A  both  sides  of  toes  and  quarters. 

Fig.  125.  rolling  motion  shoe  no.  1.    gradually    narrowing    the    bar 

FOR    KNEE   SPRUNG    AND   SORE   TENDONS.  i  •  /•  j.  x-    x  ^ 

edorewise  irom  center  or  toe  to 
A,  A,  A,  A,  Bevel  on  heel  of  shoe    -,       , 
from   ground  surface  to  -wall-bearing. 

B,B,  Bevel  from  inner  to  outer  surface  As   the    bar   diminishes   in 

of  ground-bearing,  as  shown.  ^.^^j^  -^  increases  in  thickness 

toward  the  heels.  Then  commence  at  inner  B,  gradually  bevel- 
ing to  outer  B,  extending  as  far  back  as  shown  in  diagram  on 
both  sides  of  quarters.  As  the  web  at  the  toe  shortens  on  the 
ground  surface,  the  thickness  at  the  heels  gives  elevation. 
The  beveling  from  inner  to  outer  web  lessens  the  ground  surface 
of  the  shoe.  This  shoe,  when  properly  made  and  adjusted,  is 
the  best  I  have  ever  used  for  s])rung  knee  and  sore  tendons. 

Fig.  126.   The  shoe  on  the  opposite  page  I  use  for  laminitis, 
quarter   crack,  split  hoof,  bruised  heels,   contracted    feet    and 
tender-footedness ;  and  it  has  always  given  the  best  satisfaction. 
16 


236 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


The  shoe  is  made  in  this 
way :  Take  a  bar  of  the  re- 
quired width  and  thickness 
and  bend  it.  Shape  both  sides 
from  toe  to  heel.  Commence 
beveling  on  outer  surface,  the 
bevel  gradually  diminishing  at 
the  inside  web  of  shoe.  Ex- 
tend this  operation  from  toe 
to  heel  on  ground  surface.  In- 
crease the  web  of  shoe  in  pro- 
portion as  the  ground  surface 

requires  to  be  shortened.  ^ig.  I2fi.  rolling  motion  shoe  no.  2, 

for  various  purposes,  as  described. 

The  effect  of  this  shoe  on       „   ,    .       ,   ,    ,,  ,  , 

lo  be  beveled  all  around  on  ground 

the    foot  will    be    to   lessen   the     surface,  from  inside  lo  outside  of  web, 
ground    surface,   breaking  the    ^^^hown. 

jar  at  each  footfall,  bringing  the  foot  more  under  the  leg,  and  al- 
lowing it  to  roll  easily,  in  the  forward  movement  at  point  of  toe. 

Fig.  127.  Although  roll- 
ing-motion shoes  Nos.  1  and 
2  will  prevent  tripping  and 
stumbling,  all  horses  can 
not  travel  with  ease  and 
comfort  when  wearing  a  full 
rolling-motion  shoe.  For 
such  cases,  therefore,  I  de- 
signed shoe,  Fig.  127.  I  have 
elsewhere  stated  that  stumb- 
ling will  arise  from  straight 
shoulders,  short,  upright  pas- 
terns, high  heels  and  carry- 
ing the  head  low.  The  more 
Fig.  127.  front  foot  shoe,  to  prevent    g^iffness   and  soreness  there 

STUMBLING    AND    GIVE   GRACEFUL    KNEE    AC-  ^ 

TioN.  is  apparent,  the  higher  the 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING.  237 

foot  is  to  be  raised  from  the  ground  to  prevent  the  toe  tripping 
or  stumbling. 

To  make  the  shoe,  cut  a  bar  of  the  required  width  and 
thickness,  and  shape  the  shoe  from  toe  to  heel,  making  quarters 
the  same  as  an  ordinary  shoe.  ISText,  take  a  round,  blunt  full- 
ering tool,  and  scoop  out  at  points  A,  A,  gradually  thinning 
from  inside  web  to  outside  web.  After  swedging,  clip  oft'  with 
a  chisel  the  surplus  to  the  circle  of  the  foot;  then  hot-rasp  the 
outer  rim  of  shoe,  leaving  the  ground  surface  as  seen  in  the 
preceding  diagram. 

If  Fig.  127  is  properly  made,  and  the  foot  placed  on  its 
natural  angle,  the  worst  cases  of  tripping  and  stumbling  can  be 
prevented. 

If  calkins  are  required  for  winter  use,  set  the  toe  calk  well 
back  from  the  front  of  shoe,  and  weld  on  side  heel  calkins. 

This  style  of  shoe  can  be  successfully  employed  in  giving 
the  horse  graceful  knee  action,  as  it  will  allow  the  toe  to  break 
over  quickly  and  an  increase  of  weight  will  cause  the  muscles 
of  the  limbs  and  shoulders  to  be  brought  more  into  play  in  lift- 
ing the  feet  from  the  ground. 

Another  shoe  to  accomplish  the  same  result  is  the  four-cal- 
kin shoe,  made  as  described  and  shown  in  Fig.  101  ;  both  shoes 
will  give  a  sprightly  down  grade  style  of  action. 

To  increase  hock  action,  if  front  shoes  weigh  20  ounces 
each,  make  hind  shoes  18  ounces  or  in  that  proportion,  for  in- 
creased or  diminished  weight.  Any  ordinary  shoe  will  answer 
the  purpose  for  the  hind  feet,  by  having  increased  weight  in  shoe 
the  reflex  action  of  picking  up  the  foot  is  increased,  which; 
causes  the  hock  to  bend  more  and  lift  the  foot  higher  from 
the  ground,  and  the  graceful  eftect  is  heightened  with  increase 
of  speed. 

Fig.  128.  By  shoeing  with  the  style  of  shoe  on  the  opposite 
page — properly  made  and  applied — the  weight  being  principally 
in  the  toe,  at  the  extremities  of  the  muscles,  the  action  will  be 


238 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig,  128.  front  foot  shoe,  for  balancing 
and  squaring  the  action  and  gait  of 
horses,  when  inclined  to  rack  or  pace 
and  shuffle. 


squared  and  balanced.  In 
order  that  the  shoe  may 
have  the  desired  efl'ect, 
the  quarters  must  be  well 
concaved  from  the  ground 
surface.  In  proportion 
then,  as  the  weight  is  les- 
sened in  the  quarters,  the 
toe  of  the  shoe  will  be 
relatively  heavier.  This 
shoe  can  be  used  to  quicken 
the  horse's  action  by  being 
rolled  on  the  ground  sur- 
face. I  have  used  it  with 
the  most  satisfactory  re- 
sults. 

Fig.  129.   This  shoe  is  intended  only  for  slow  work  in  gait- 
ing  horses.     If  the  shoe  be  made  according  to  the  instructions 

following,    and    head  checked 
down    with    standing   martin- 
gale, as  described  in  Chap.  Y, 
page  110,  balancing  the  action 
of  horses,  a   pacer  that  never 
struck  a  trot  will  trot  at  once. 
To  make  the  shoe,  select  a 
bar     of    iron     one-half     inch 
0/   thick,  and  shape  the  toe  and 
quarters,  then  with  a  chisel  cut 
from  center  of  quarters,  leav- 
ing one-half  inch  thickness  at 
toe.     Gradually  draw  the  shoe 
Fig.  129.  improved  toe-weight  shoe,    thinner  from  toe  to  heel ;  cut 

A,    A,     Insertion     for     the     frog.     ^^  ^     k     ^^  ^||^^  f^j,  ^^^   ^ 
B,  B,  B,  B,  Concave  on  ground  sur-  "^ 

face.  The  inner  edges,  B,  B,  B,  B, 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEIXG. 


239 


are  to  be  made  concave  on  ground  surface,  and  just  in  propor- 
tion as  the  quarters  and  heels  are  lightened,  weight  is  to  be 
added  to  the  toe.  A  shoe  of  this  pattern  will  assist  the  horse 
in  the  extension  of  his  stride  more  than  any  other  shoe  made 
in  the  ordinary  way  and  weighing  thirty  ounces. 

I  have  never  failed  to   make   a  pacer  trot,  if  shod  in  this 
manner. 

Fig.  130.  I  use  this  shoe 
for  founder,  laminitis,  ring- 
bone, and  anchylosis. 

For  founder,  the  bottom  of 
the  foot  should  be  pared  quite 
thin ;  and  after  the  shoes  are 
nailed  on,  stand  the  horse  in 
8oaking-tubs  filled  with  warm 
water,  for  half  a  day,  then  ap- 
ply hot  poultices  to  the  bottom 
of  the  feet. 

For  laminitis,  bear  in  mind 

Fig.  130.    front    foot    turn-table    ^o  keep  all   pressure   from  the 
SHOE,   FOR  ANCHYLOSIS,  LAMINITIS   OR    toe,  and  kcep  Up  the  hot  Avater 

FOUNDER,    VILLITIS,    AND    RINGBONE. 


treatment     same      as     recom- 
mended for  founder. 

For    ring-bone,   keep    the 
foot  pared  as   low  as    can    be 

center  at  E  being  the  highest  point  by    safely  done.    Ring-bone  causes 

4  in.  to  h  in.,  on  which  the  horse  must     .r,^  v^„„„  4-^  ^^„iu    ^      v,-     i,      i 
,     -      \       .     ,  the  horse  to  walk  on  his  heel, 

stand  squarely  poised.  ' 

and  this  shoe  will  greatly  assist 
in  getting  over  the  toe  as  well  as  turning  around — allowing  the 
foot  to  roll  with  an  easy  sort  of  rocker  motion,  and  with  but 
little  strain  on  the  aftected  parts.  I  have  never  failed  to  make 
a  horse  travel  well  on  hard  roads.  The  horse  can  turn  himself 
around  as  easily  as  though  on  a  turn-table. 


A,  A,  Bevel  of  toe  to  B.  C,  C,  Bevel 
from  quarters  to  heels,  D,  D.  E,  Cen- 
ter of  plate,  1 J  in.  wide  by  h  in.  thick, 
welded  on  center  of  quarters  and  ta- 
pering each  way  to  F,  F,  F,  F,  the 


240 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  131.     double  roller  shoe. 
A,  A,  Sole  bearing  of  the  shoe. 


Closely  connected  witli  the  turntable  shoe  described  else- 
where, and  in  chronic  cases  of  anchylosis  of  the  ankle  joint,  is 
the  rolling  motion  ball  shoe  illustrated  in  Fig.  131.  The  prac- 
tical result  is  the  freedom  of  motion  it  permits  to  all  the  joints 
of  the  foot  and  limb,  to  compensate  for  the  stiffness  of  the 
joint  affected.  Tiiis  freedom  of  movement  takes  the  strain 
from  the  stiff  joint  and  enables  the  horse  to  twist  and  turn  to 
find  the  necessary  relief.  The  ground  surface  of  the  shoe  is 
solid  metal,  the  center  being  the  highest  and  gradually  rolling 
or  curving  to  the  wall  on  all  sides.  It  is  the  shoe  that  the 
late  trainer  of  trotting  horses,  Ben  Mace,  used  with  great 
benefit  on  Sensation  in  all  of  his  successful  trotting  races. 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


241 


Fig.   132.    common    sense    shoe,    to 
correct  any  faulty  movements. 

A,  Inside  toe  calkin. 


Fig.  132.  In  nearly  all 
cases,  horses  that  cut  their 
ankles  in  front  place  the 
outer  side  of  the  foot  to  the 
firround  first,  then  the  foot 
drops  quickly  to  the  inside 
heel.  As  it  drops,  the  ankle 
is  thrown  inwardly  toward 
the  opposite  foot,  and  in 
passing  the  ankle  the  foot 
hits  against  the  ankle  of  the 
stationary  foot.  This  will  be 
observed  if  a  horse  with  this 
habit  be  walked  and  his 
front  action  be  carefully 
noted. 

In  shoeing  a  horse  of  this  character,  therefore,  it  should  .be 
the  custom  of  the  farrier  to  walk  the  horse  up  and  down  on 
level  ground  to  ascertain  how  he  steps  on  his  feet.  If  he  steps 
on  the  outer  toe,  first  carefully  pare  the  foot  level  and  straight, 
as  directed.  After  which  apply  the  above  shoe,  with  inside  toe 
calkin.  Then  set  the  outside  calk,  thus  shortening  the  ground 
surface,  and  place  side  heel  calkin  on  the  shoe.  This  will 
allow"  a  broader  tread  and  prevent  twisting  of  the  foot  as  it 
leaves  the  ground.  In  the  forward  movement,  the  foot  will 
turn  over  the  outside  toe  quickly  and  carry  its  ankle  out  of 
the  reach  of  the  cutting  ankle.  Place  the  shoe  on  the  foot, 
corresponding  with  the  ankle  hit,  the  toe  calkin.  A,  always 
on  the  inside. 

This  shoe  can  also  be  used  to  correct  any  faulty  step,  as  th§ 
ground  surface  can  be  increased  or  diminished  without  destroy- 
ing the  shape  of  the  foot. 


242 


SCIEiXTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  133.  When  us- 
ing slioe,  if  the  horse  toes 
out,  place  a  wide  web  on 
the  inside ;  if  he  toes  in, 
place  the  wide  web  on  the 
outside.  If  he  brushes 
his  ankles,  shins  or  knees, 
when  the  foot  is  directly 
under  the  axis  of  the  leg, 
close  up  the  nail  holes  in 
the  toe  on  the  inside,  and 
place  them  in  back  of 
quarters,  as  shown  in  dia- 
gram. The  inside  is  to  be 
beveled  on  ground  surface 
as  shown  at  A,  A.  If  the 
shoe  is  properly  placed 
it  can  not  fail  to  be  of 
great  service  to  the  horse, 
and  do  all  that  is  claimed 
for  it. 

Fig.  134.    This  style 
is  known  as  the  rolling- 
motion  shoe,  and  is  used 
to  quicken  the   action  of 
the  horse  in  front,  show- 
ing the  length  of  the  shoe 
at  the  heel  and  the  roll  at 
the    toe,    with   the    nails 
driven  in  the  quarters. 
Fig.  135.     The  shoe  on  the  opposite  page  is  intended  for 
draft  horses.     If  the  horse  pulls  from  the  outside  toe,  the  out- 
side quarter  and  heel  will  wire  in.     To  overcome  this  tendency, 
I    designed    this    style    of  shoe.     Any    ordinary  shoe   may   be 


Fig.  loo.  FRONT  FOOT  SIDE  WEIGHT 
SHOE,  TO  PREVENT  ANKLE  OK  KNEK-HIT- 
TING. 

A,  A,  Inside  rim  to  be  beveled  on  the 
ground  tread. 


Fig.  134.      side   view   of   foot, 
rolling  motion  shoe. 


WITH    A 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


243 


used,  on  which  the  toe- 
piece  at  "A,"  may  be 
welded,  which  should  ex- 
tend from  the  outside  rim 
of  the  shoe,  say  from  one- 
half  inch  to  an  inch. 
Stave  up  the  outside  heel 
of  the  shoe  sufficiently  to 
get  good  broad  covering 
for  the  narrowed-in  heel 
and  quarter.  Use  the 
round  fullering  tool  to 
swedffe  the  shoe  wide 
enough  to  obtain  good  bar 
pressure.  Turn  up  heels 
and  weld  a  calk  on  the 
outside  heel,  and  fit  the 
shoe  snugly  to  the  wall 
up  to  both  sides  of  the 
frog. 

The  effect  of  the  pro- 
jecting toe-piece  is  to  brace 
or  stay  the  weak  part  of 
the  ankle  and  foot,  and  in 
two  or  three  shoeino;s  the 
foot  will  become  natural 
in  its  movements,  and 
fairly  returned  to  its  nor- 
mal state. 

Fig.  136.  This  is 
another  style  of  shoe  for 
draft  horses,  as  explained 
by  the  references  under 
the  cut. 


Fig.  13o.      front    foot    shoe,    for    draft 

HOKSE. 

A,  Outside  toe  calk.     B,  Side-heel  calk. 


Fig.  136.  front  foot  shoe,  for  draft 
horses  that  wear  hard  on  the  out- 
side toe  and  heel. 

A,  Outside  toe  calk.  B,  Indicates  the 
location  of  a  clip  to  be  turned  up  on  the 
outside  rim  of  the  shoe  to  hold  it  more 
firmly  to  the  foot. 


244 


SCIEXTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


¥lO.   137.      FRONT     FOOT    SHOE,    TO    PREVENT 
PADDLING,  ANKLE  AND  SHIN  CUTTING. 

A,  Projection  at  side  of  toe,  to  be  placed 
on  the  outside  to  remedy  paddling,  and  on 
the  inside  to  stop  ankle  or  shin  cutting. 


Fig.  138.  front  foot  shoe,  designed 
for  bruised  and  ulcerated  heels  or 
corns,  showing  the  wall-bearing  a,  a. 


Fig.  137.  When  the 
foot  has  an  outward  dip 
over  the  inside  toe  it  is 
called  padding.  Use  shoe, 
Fig.  137,  placing  the  pro- 
jecting toe-piece,  A,  on 
the  inside  of  shoe.  If  the 
foot  has  an  inward  dip  in 
leaving  the  ground,  it  is 
liable  to  hit  the  ankle  or 
shin  on  the  opposite  leg. 
For  such  cases  place  the 
toe  piece  on  the  outside  of 
the  shoe  as  this  will  make 
the  foot  break  straight 
over  the  toe.  The  toe- 
piece  to  extend  one-half 
to  three-quarter  inch  be- 
yond the  rim  of  shoe. 

Fig.  138.  This  shoe 
is  easily  made.  Take  a 
shoe  stifi'  at  heels  and  cut 
it  out  from  wall-bearing^ 
surfaces  to  the  inner  rims, 
as  shown  at  A,  A.  If 
only  one  heel  is  affected, 
concave  on  that  side,  at 
the  place  of  bruise.  Pare 
the  commissures  and  bars 
all  around  the  diseased 
part  as  thin  as  the  safety 
of  the  foot  Avill  permit. 
Then  punch  holes  in  each 
heel  with  a  round  punchy 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


245 


large  enough  to  receive  a  one-sixteenth  inch  rivet.  Then  rivet 
a  leather  on  the  shoe,  covering  the  bottom  of  the  foot.  Fill 
the  bottom  of  the  foot  with  fat  pork  out  of  the  brine,  and  nail 
the  shoe  on  lio-htlv. 

Soak  the  feet  in  warm  water  for  two  hours.  The  pork  will 
draw  and  assist  in  removing  all  soreness  from  the  part.  If  these 
instructions  are  closely  followed,  I  will  guarantee  that  the  worst 
case  of  corns  can  be  cured  in  thirty  days.  They  have  never 
failed  me. 

Fig.  139.  This  shoe  was 
designed  by  the  late  Mr.  Dan 
Mace  for  the  noted  mare,  Lady 
Thorne.  Great  skill  was  re- 
quired in  adjusting  to  her  feet 
shoes  of  suitable  weight  to 
balance  her  action.  This  was 
effected  by  Mr.  Mace  by  fit- 
tinsr  her  with  shoes  as  shown 
herewith,  weighing  12  ounces 
each  in  front,  and  14  ounces 
each  behind  ;  after  which,  her 
action  was  as  regular  as  the 
pendulum  of  a  clock.  p^^  139     ^^^^  p^o^  shoe,  to  bal- 

This  shoe  should  fit  snugly    ance  and  slow  the  action  of  the 

,  ^  ,1,1-1  r-     TROTTING      HOKSE,      DESIGNED      BY      DAN 

on  the  foot  up  to  both  sides  ot 

the   frog,    the    heels    inclining       ^^  ^  ^^  ^^  ^^^^.^  ^^^^^^1  bevel  of 

outward.     The  shoe  being  long-     front  part  of  shoe  to  ground  surface. 


er  than   the  foot  at  the  heels, 


C,  C,  Heel  calkins  gradually  lowered 


toward  quarters. 
destroys    the    down   action   of 

the  flexor  perforans,  which  serves  to  lessen  the  quick  up  ac- 
tion. The  length  of  the  heels  also  gives  more  ground  surface 
to  the  foot,  which  requires  a  longer  interval  for  the  horse  to  get 
over  his  toe.     I  have  used  this  shoe  with  satisfactory  results. 


24G 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  140.    hind  foot  shoe,  for  track 
and  road  horses. 

^V'ell  beveled  on  ground  surface,  as 
shown  by  letters  A,  A,  A. 


Fig.  140.  This  shoe  is 
made  of  steel,  and  is  well 
beveled  on  the  ground  sur- 
face. If  the  horse  is  a  long 
strider,  turn  up  small  heel 
calkins  so  as  to  serve  as  a 
check  to  the  foot  in  landing  ; 
if  a  short  strider,  heel  cal- 
kins are  not  required.  Fit 
the  shoe  the  same  length  as 
the  foot  (as  shown  in  this 
figure),  so  as  not  to  retard  the 
down  action  of  the  flexor 
perforans.  By  following  the 
above  directions  the  speed 
of  the  horse  will  not  be  re- 
tarded. 

Fig.  141.  This  hind 
foot  shoe  is  intended  for  an 
extreme  case  of  ankle  hit- 
ting, where  the  horse  hits 
with  the  inside  point  of  the 
toe.  This  occurs  with  horses 
that  stand  in  a  faulty  posi- 
tion having  their  toes  turned 
in.  In  such  cases  a  toe-calk 
should  be  placed  on  the  in- 
side, at  the  striking  point 
of  the  foot,  A,  and  also  a 
side  heel  calkin,  B.  This 
will  prevent  any  thing  like 
an  inward  dip  of  the  foot, 
as  the  horse  starts,  and  will  cause  an  outward  dip  sufiicientto  carry 
the  foot  beyond  the  ankle  of  the  opposite  leg  without  striking  it. 


Fig.  141. 


HIND    FOOT    SHOE,  FOR  ANKLE 
HITTING. 


A,  Inside  toe  calk.     B,  Inside  heel 
calk. 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


247 


Fig.  142.  This  slioe, 
if  properly  made  and  ad- 
justed to  the  foot,  will  not 
fail  to  do  all  that  is  claimed 
for  it.  Trotting  horses  vary 
so  greatly  that  no  rule  can 
be  laid  down  applicable  to 
all,  beyond  the  general  ob- 
servation to  shoe  each  horse 
in  accordance  with  his  shape, 
build  and  gait,  with  differ- 
ently weighted  and  con- 
structed shoes. 

The  shoe  in  question 
should  be  used  only  on 
horses  with  their  hind  legs 
inclined  to  stand  under  the 
body.    On  close  examination 

of  the  hind  legs  from  the  hock,  we  find  the  two  nind  feet  close 
together,  and  the  legs  open  between  the  hocks;  we  notice  the 
pasterns  from  the  union  of  the  upper  pastern  to  the  lower  por- 
tion of  the  cannon-bone  leaning  outwardly.  Dropping  plumb 
lines  from  the  inner  and  outer  sides  of  the  hock  to  the  ground, 
we  observe  that  both  will  hang,  the  one  on  the  outer  and  the 
other  toward  the  outer  side,  and  that  the  weight  does  not  pass 
through  the  axis  of  the  leg  and  foot.  In  proportion,  therefore, 
as  these  lines  are  distant  from  their  normal  position,  the  outer 
branch  of  the  shoe  will  require  to  be  turned  outwardly  to  meet 
the  vertical,  and  as  the  inside  heel  calkin  of  the  shoe  is  lowered, 
just  so  much  will  the  upper  pastern  be  brought  near  the  center 
line  through  axis  of  foot  and  leg. 

The  inside  branch  of  shoe  is  to  fit  snugly  to  the  inner  wall 
of  foot.  The  outside  branch  of  shoe,  extending  well  back  of 
heel  and  leg,  will  serve  as  a  brace  to  support  the  upper  pastern 


Fig.  142.    hind  foot  shoe,  to  widen 

THE    action. 

A,  Inside  branch.  B,  Ending  of  in- 
side toe  calk.  C,  Ending  of  outside 
toe  calk.  Lines  A  B,  A  C  show  circle 
of  toe. 


248 


SCIENTIFIC    HDRSKSHOEING. 


Fig.    H;]. 


and  the  shank  or  cannon-bone.  When  the  horse  in  motion  lands 
his  foot  npon  the  ground,  the  heel  of  the  foot  on  the  inside  be- 
ing the  lowest,  the  inner  muscle  will  bear  the  greater  strain  ; 
and  as  the  foot  leaves  the  ground,  the  outer  muscle  will  spring 

back,  carrying  the  foot  out- 
wardly over  the  outside  part 
of  the  toe,  thus  widening  the 
tride  as  the  foot  leaves  the 
ground,  and  allowing  the  hind 
leg  to  pass  the  fore  foot  and 
avoid  speedy  cutting. 

Fig.  143.  To  equalize 
the  wearing. — This  represents 
a  style  of  shoe  adapted  for 
horses  that  wear  heavily  on  one 
side  of  the  foot.  This  often 
occurs  from  an  inclination  of 
the  pastern  to  lean  in  or  out, 
thus  causing  the  shoe  to  wear 
more  on  the  side  to  which  the 
foot  and  pastern  leans  than  on 
the  other.  If  the  wear  is  great- 
est on  the  outside,  place  the 
wide  branch  of  the  shoe  on 
that  side;  and,  similarly,  if 
greatest  wear  occurs  on  the  in- 
side have  the  wide  web  of  the 
shoe  on  that  side.  In  this  w^ay 
the  wearing  of  the  shoe  will 
be  equalized  and  the  foot  and 
A  to  B,  Inside  heel  calkin  gradu:illy  hmb  will  be  correspondingly 
t^"""^^-  benefitted. 

Fig.144  represents  a  pattern  of  shoe  to  prevent  ankle  cut- 
ting on  horses  with  long  oblique  pasterns  leaning  inward  and 


HIND      FOOT      SIDE     WEIGHT 
SHOE. 


FlQ.    144.       HIND     FOOT     SHOE,     TO     PRE- 
VENT   ANKLE    CUTTING. 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING- 


249 


the  toes  standing  outward.  The  heel  calk  shown  is  to  be  on  the- 
inside  branch  of  the  shoe  gradually  tapering  toward  the  heel 
from  A  to  B,  as  this  will  tend  to  straighten  the  pasterns  by  rais- 
ing the  inside  of  the  foot  more  directly  under  the  leg.  Usually 
it  is  found  that  with  pasterns  of  the  kind  in  question,  the  inside 
heel  is  shorter  on  the  ground  tread  than  the  outside,  and  this 
shoe  will  supply  the  deficiency  and  thus  avoid  the  striking  or 
cutting  of  the  ankle  as  stated. 

Fig.  145.  This  shoe  is 
made  as  light  as  can  be  con- 
veniently worn,  and  extends 
well  back  at  the  heels,  the  cal- 
kins behind  being  slightly 
higher  than  the  front  toe  calks. 
The  shoe,  being  well  rolled  on 
the  ground  surface,  will  allow 
the  horse  in  his  forward  move- 
ment to  get  over  the  toe  with 
but  little  strain  on  the  affected 
parts. 

In  shoeing  for  spavin,  the 
heel  calkins  are  to  be  made  to 
suit  the  emergencies.  For  this 
trouble,  first  pare  the  foot  ac-  outer  rim  of  toe  at  B. 
cording  to  directions  given  in  Chapter  TV.  Place  the  foot 
on  the  floor  and  pick  up  the  other  foot.  If  the  horse  does  not 
stand  down  at  the  heel,  the  heel  calkins  must  be  left  high  enough 
on  the  shoe  to  make  up  for  the  deficiency ;  for  in  a  spavined 
leg  the  foot  always  has  two  motions,  first  the  horse  drops  on 
toe,  then  back  on  heel.  It  is  therefore  plain  to  see  that  the 
heel  calkins  behind  should  be  higher  than  in  front.  Again,  if  a 
horse  is  restless  on  his  hind  feet,  or  stands  with  one  foot  twisted 
in  and  placed  with  the  heel  on  the  coronet  of  the  other,  it 
is    clearly   indicative    of  a    spavin    of  some    nature,    whether 


Fig.  145.     hind  foot  shoe,   designed 
for  curve,  spavin  and  sore  tendons. 

A,  A,  Bevel  from  front  of  toe  calks  to 


250 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


obscure  or  visible, 
success. 


I  have  used  this  stvle  of  shoe  with  admirable 


Fig.  146.  refers  to  calking 
of  the  coronet.  This  is  often 
done  by  horses  treading  on  the 
coronet  with  either  or  both 
heels  of  their  shoes  when  stand- 
ing in  the  stall,  cutting  and 
bruising  it,  oftentimes  produc- 
ing serious  lameness.  When 
toe  and  heel  calkins  are  re- 
quired, apply  this  shoe. 

The  inside   heel  calkin  is 
welded  lengthwise  on  the  shoe, 
Fig.  14G.  hind  foot  rhoh,  to  prevent     and  set  back  from  the  heel  fully 

BRUISING  OR  CALKING  THE  CORONET. 

A,  Front  toe  calk     B,  Inside  heel      ^^^  ^"C^'  ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^f^^^  be- 
calk.  ing   beveled    to    a   thin    edge. 

If  both  heel  calkins  are  placed 
on  the  coronet,  weld  a  side  heel 
on  each  side  of  the  shoe,  bevel- 
ing the  heels  as  before.  By  so 
doing,  all  danger  of  cutting  or 
bruising  the  coronet  is  over- 
come. If  plain  shoes  are  used, 
bevel  the  heels  on  the  ground 
surface  and  shoe  short. 

Fig.  147.  A  great  many 
horses  are  in  the  habit  of  twist- 
ing their  feet  when  liftmg 
them  from  the  ground,  which 
makes  them  liable  to  interfere 
and  strain  their  ankles  or  foot 
joints.  Some  will  twist  their 
foot  in;  others  will  twist  it  out. 


Fig.  147.  hiisid  foot  shoe,  for 
horses  requiring  toe  and  heel  cal- 
kins, to  prevent  twisting  either 
way,  in  or  out. 

A,  Toe  calk,  extending  over  the  side, 
as  directed  below. 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


251 


By  applying  the  shoe  seen  in  the  diagram,  if  the  twist  of  the 
foot  is  in,  let  the  toe  calk.  A,  project  over  the  outside ;  if  vice 
versa,  change  the  projection  of  the  toe  to  the  inside.  This 
style  of  shoe  will  prevent  the  twisting  of  the  foot,  and  enable 
the  horse  to  get  straight  over  the  foot  in  front. 

Fig.  148.  This  shoe  I 
use  for  wheeled  feet.  Tak- 
ing the  weight  from  front  of 
shoe  lessens  the  weight  on 
the  extensor.  In  the  flexing 
of  the  foot,  changing  the 
weight  from  quarters  to 
heels,  the  foot  will  be  easily 
lifted.  The  web  of  shoe  will 
cover  the  quarters  and  wired- 
in  heels,  gradually  restoring 
them  to  their  natural  con- 
dition. 

I  have  successfully  used 
this  shoe  for  preventing  forg- 
ing. It  will  be  readily  ad- 
mitted that  if  weight  in  the 
toe  of  a  shoe  will  lengthen 
the  stride,  reversing  the  weight  will  shorten  the  stride. 

Fig.  149.  The  shoe  on  the  following  page  is  designed  for 
trotting  horses  that  carry  their  feet  close  to  the  ground.  Many 
horses  shod  with  this  shoe  have  won  races  which  would  have 
been  lost  to  them  had  they  worn  the  ordinary  shoe. 

It  is  plain  that  just  in  proportion  as  the  thickness  of  the 
shoe  increases  at  the  toe,  the  stride  will  be  lessened  ;  and  in 
proportion  as  the  scoop  is  deepened,  the  stride  will  be  length- 
ened. A  great  advantage  gained  in  the  use  of  this  shoe  is,  that 
as  the  foot  lands,  it  slides  forward  and  hardens  the  earth.  In 
the  act  of  springing  from  the  ground,  the  outer  rim  at  letter  B, 
17 


Fig.  148. 


HIND   FOOT   SHOE    FOK   WHEELED 
FOOT. 


A,  A,  A,  Outside  bevel  at  toe. 
B,B,B,  Inside  bevel  at  toe. 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


A,  A,    Width  of  scoop  at  toe. 
Scoop  to  be  beveled  inwardly  to  C. 


the  high  point  gives  a  solid 
catch  ;  and  it  is  evident,  there- 
fore, that  the  advantage  gained 
in  landing  is  not  lost  in  spring- 
ing ofl"  the  ground.  This  back- 
\/ard  and   forward    friction   is 

ery  tiresome  to  the  horse,  and 
nay  be  compared  to  the  resist- 

mce  experienced  by  the  human 
leing  running  over  sand  and 

now. 

This  shoe  is  easily  made  by 

laying  the  center  of  the  toe  on 

HIND   FOOT   scooPED-TOE    tj^^  hom  of  thc  auvll  with  face 

ROLLING   MOTION   SHOE,  TO   PREVENT 

SLIPPING  WHEN  SPRINGING   FROM  THE    dowuward  and  hammering  the 

GROUND.  . 

2  scoop  out,  letting  the  heel  or 
shoe  project  w^ell  beyond  the 
break  of  heel.  It  affords  great 
bracing  or  stay  to  the  back  sinews. 
This  shoe  is  designed  for  use 
upon  horses  with  long  pasterns. 
Short  upright  pasterns  can  be  shod 
shorter,  as  there  is  less  strain  on 
back  tendons.  If  the  back  sinews 
are  sore,  put  on  heel  calkins. 

Fig.  150.     This  is  a  pattern 
of  front  foot  shoe  for  line  trotters. 
Horses  of  this  class,  when  up  to 
Fig.  150.    front  foot  shoe  for  line    gpged,  carry  their  hind  limbs  in 

TROTTEP.S,  TO  PREVENT  SCALPING.  ^ 

A,  Bevel  around  inner  rim  to  B,  li"e  with  the  fore,  and  great  care 

extending  around   the  heels  and  jg  required  in  shoeing  them  lest 

quarters,  B,  B,  and  carried  forward  ,               i     .i      i  •     i    i  •                          j. 

to  near  front  toe  nails.    The  heels  they  scalp  the  hind  shin  or  coronet 

of  shoe  also  to  be  beveled  at  B,  B,    ^s  it  passes  under  the  front  foot, 
on  ground  surface,  with  the  angle     ^,  ,  .  ,        «  , 

of  the  foot.  The  thinner  the  front  shoes  are 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


253 


the  less  liability  there  will  be 
to  injury  in  this  way.  The 
shoe  must  also  be  beveled  at 
the  heels  on  the  ground  surface 
with  the  angle  of  the  hoof,  as 
indicated  in  diagram  150,  and 
as  explained  with  Fig.  28.  The 
weight  of  the  shoes  must  be 
determined  by  the  driver,  as 
some  horses  require  more 
weight  than  other  in  order  to 
balance  their  action. 

Fig.  151  represents  a  bar 
shoe  for  the  same  general  pur- 
pose as  described  for  Fig.  150 ; 
but  as  some  horses  are  more 
tender  in  the  heels  than  others, 
this  style  of  bar  shoe  may  be 
substituted  for  the  open  shoe. 

Fig.  152  indicates  the  pat- 
tern of  shoe  recommended  to 
prevent  side  or  back  slipping 
on  hard  tracks.  Whatever  is 
gained  by  a  forward  slide  is 
not  lost,  for  the  purchase  ob- 
tained by  the  use  of  this  style 
of  rasp-cut  shoe  will  enable  the 
horse  to  land  and  spring  with 
better  confidence,  speed  and 
endurance  than  by  any  other 
form.  This  shoe  should  be 
made  of  steel  and  after  the 
teeth  are  cut,  they  are  to  be 
tempered  in  oil. 


Fig.  151.  front  foot  bar  shoe,  to 
be  used  when  required  on  line 
tkotteks. 

A  to  B,  Bevel  around  inner  and 
outer  rim  same  as  in  Fig.  117.  The 
dot  shown  in  center  of  bar  is  rivet 
hole  for  leather  when  used  under  the 
shoe. 


Fig.  152.     ft^ont  foot  rasp  cut  bar 

SHOE,     to    prevent    SLIPPING    ON     HARD 
TRACKS. 

The  dot  in  center  of  bar  is  rivet  hole 
to  secure  leather  when  required. 


254 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  153  shows  a  hind  foot, 
rasp-cut  grab  shoe,  to  prevent 
slipping  on  hard  tracks,  as  ex- 
plained with  Fig.  152.  The  extra 
scoop  at  front  of  toe  will  give  an 
additional  purchase  and  firm 
ground  hold  to  the  foot  w^hen 
rising. 

Fig.  154.    Front  foot  raised 

split-bar  steel  shoe,  for  contracted 

hoofs,  sore   tendons,  side   bones, 

corns,   bruised   heels,    etc.     This 
Fig.    153.    hind   foot   rasp   cut 

GRAB  SHOE,  WITH  DEEP  SCOOP  AT    shoc   is   to   bc   madc  of  steel  in 
'^°^-  order   that  the    bar  may  spring 

Scoop  from  A  to  B,  as  shown,  the    ^^^^^  ^^^  weight  of  the  horse. 
outer  rim    at  A  to  be  flush  with 
Jace  of  shoe.  Make  it  in  the  same  way  as 

other  bar  shoes,  and  after  the 

shoe  is  shaped  and  fitted  cut 

the  bar  in  center  at  A,  A, 

then  commence  at  B,  B,  to 

raise  the  bar  say  i  to  ^  inch, 

Iceeping  both  faces  flat.     In 

;ases  where  leather  is  to  be 

used  to  obtain  frog  pressure, 

lit  the  leather   to   cavity  in 

bar  under  the  shoe,  punch 

holes  in  center  of  bar  and  at 

B,  B,  as  shown  by  dots,  for 

reception  of  rivets,  then  bevel 

around  the   toe    of  shoe  on 

Fig.  154.     front  foot  raised  split     ground  tread  as  shown. 

BAR    SHOE,     FOR    CONTRACTION.     SORE    TEN-        ^  ^yj^j^   ^|^^     f^^^    prOl^Crlv 

DONS,    SIDE   BONES,   CORNS,  BRUISED    HEELS,  i  i  ./ 

ETC.  leveled  and  balanced,  as  per 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


255 


Fig.  23,  this  shoe  will  be  found 
very  eflective  for  use  in  any  of 
the  cases  mentioned. 

Fig.  155.  Front  foot  scooped 
toe  or  grab  shoe,  with  side  heel 
calks  for  trotting  and  pacing 
horses  inclined  to  twist  or  slip  in 
landing  or  rising. 

It  is  a  waste  of  power  and 
loss  of  motion  for  horses  to  twist 
or  turn  in  any  way  out  of  a  direct 
forward  line,  and  by  use  of  the    fig.  155.    front  foot  bar  scooped- 

•I    ,  •        .1    •         1  1  TOE   GRAB   SHOE. 

scooped-toe  in  this  shoe  we  liave       ^  .   ,.     .  ,    . 

^  To  prevent  slipping,  scoop  the  toe 

an   excellent   corrective   for   this    from  A  to  B,  around   to   C,  C. 

D,  D,  Side  heel  calks.     Dot  in  cen- 

tendency,   as  well  as  a  valuable    ter  of  bar,  rivet  hole  for  leather 

.  '  .  when  required. 

aid  m  speed  getting. 

Fig.  156  is  a  new  form 
of  double  rolling  motion  bar 
shoe,  designed  to  quicken 
the  action  in  front,  and  thus 
prevent  stumbling,  forging 
and  speedy  cutting.  By  the 
increased  knee  action  which 
this  shoe  gives  it  will  also 
relieve  soreness  of  tendons 
and  feet.  AVhen  used  for 
sore  tendons,  after  the  foot 
is  properly  leveled,  build  up 
the  heels  to  take  ofi*  all  pos- 
sible pressure  from  the  back 
of  the  leg,  by  inserting  a 
thick  piece  of  sole  leather 
under  the  shoe  to  cover  the 
bottom  of  foot,  gradually 
thinning    the    leather   from 


Fig.  15G.  front  foot  center  bearing, 
double  rolling  motion  bar  shoe,  to 
quicken  the  front  action,  prevent 
speedy  cutting,  forging,  stumbling,  etc. 

A,  A,  High  center  point  in  shoe,  grad- 
ually beveled  forward  to  B,  at  toe,  and 
back  to  C,  at  heel  bar.  D,  f^iile  view  of 
shoe,  representing  the  foot-bearing  face 
by  straight  line,  and  the  ground  face  by 
the  easy  bevels  each  way  from  center. 
The  thickness  of  center  is  to  be  regulated 
to  suit  the  necessities  of  the  case. 


256 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


heel  to  toe.  Then  in  case  the  weight  is  to  be  reduced,  after  the 
shoe  is  nailed  on,  the  leather  can  be  cut  out  around  the  inside 
of  shoe. 

Fig.  157.  Hind  foot  scooped  toe  or  grab  shoe,  to  prevent 
speedy  cutting.  This  is  a  great  shoe  for  speedy,  close  gaited 
horses.  The  scoop  at  toe  secures  the  foothold  and  prevents 
slipping  backward  when  leaving  the  ground,  while  the  inner 
and  outer  bevels  on  shoe  prevent  the  cutting  or  bruising  of  front 
quarters  when  in  rapid  motion.  This  shoe  is  to  be  made  thicker 
at  the  toe  and  gradually  beveled  thinner  to  the  heels. 


Fig.  157.    hind  foot  scoupkd  toe 

GRAB      shoe,     to      PRKVENT      SPEEDY 
CUTTING. 

Scoop  at  toe  to  be  deepened  in- 
ward from  A  to  B.  C,  D,  Bevels 
around  inner  and  outer  rims  of 
branches. 


Fig.  ]58.    front  foot  scooped  grab 

TOE  BAR  shoe,  TO  PREVENT  SPEED  HORSES 
SLIPPING  ON  SOFT  TRACKS. 

A,  Outer  rim  of  toe  to  be  of  same 
height  on  ground  tread  as  the  four 
calkins;  the  scoop  to  bevel  in  to  B, 
which  is  thinned  down  a  little  below 
the  web  of  the  shoe,  and  extends  to 
sides,  G,  C.  Side  heel  and  quarter 
calkins,  D,  D,D,D,  wedge  or /^shaped, 
with  points  upward.  These  calkins 
are  to  be  of  same  height  as  the  grab 
toe  from  A  to  C,  C. 

Fig.  158.     "With   this  style  of  shoe  made  as  directed   by 
references  underneath  the  cut,  the  foot  can  not  slip  either  to  the 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


2.j7 


rear  or  sides,  and  by  being  easily  lifted  from  muddy  tracks  with 
little  friction,  the  horse  grows  surer  footed  and  less  leg  weary 
or  jaded  than  would  otherwise  be  the  case  with  the  ordinary  toe 
and  heel  calked  shoe. 

Fig.  159.  Any  ordinary 
shoe  may  be  adapted  to  this 
form  by  cutting  off  both  of 
the  branches  to  the  required 
length,  then  by  using  a  bar, 
say  f  in.  thick  by  |  in.  wide, 
long  enough  to  extend  across  [  . 
the  quarters,  and  welding  the 
tongue  piece  on  bar  to  reach 
back  and  cover  the  frog  be- 
tween the  heels,  after  which 
weld  to  the  shoe  and  put  on 
calks  at  toe,  sides  and  heel  of 
equal  height,  as  shown  at  A,  Fig.  I5y.  fko.vt  rh.tthrel-quakter 
B,  B,  and  C.     The  cleft  of  frog    ^""''^^  ^"«  ^^'^^^'^'  "Raised  heels,  side 

BOXES,    QUARTER  CRACKS,  ETC. 

is  marked  atD,  and  the  dressed 

A,  B,  B,  C,  C,  Toe  quarters  and 
wall  at  E,  E.  In  almost  all  heel  calks.  D,  Cleft  of  frog.  E,  E, 
cases  of  this    kind  pressure  is    B'"ised  heels.    F,  F,  Lower  margin  of 

11  re-     T        r  1     level  wall. 

to  be  kept  on   the   irog,    and 

this  can  easily  be  done  by  bending  the  broad  tongue  piece  away 
from  the  foot.  This  shoe  may,  if  desired,  also  be  made  plain, 
that  is,  without  calks,  and  in  either  form  will  be  found  of 
valuable  service  if  applied  for  the  purposes  intended  with  foot 
prepared,  as  per  Fig.  23. 

Fig.  160  (next  page).  A  horse  thus  affected  endeavors  to  re- 
move the  weight  from  the  back  of  his  foot  by  walking  on  his  toe. 
This  shoe  can  be  used  equally  well  for  horses  and  mules — the 
heel  calks  to  be  high  enough  in  each  instance  to  level  the  heel 
with  the  ground,  then  as  the  weight  can  be  borne  on  the  heels, 
the  calks  will  gradually  be  worn  down  and  give  indications  in 


2o8 


SCIENTIFIC    HOKSESHOEINQ. 


this  way  of  returning  soundness.  The  toe-piece  or  front  clip  is 
to  be  turned  up  at  same  angle  as  the  front  of  hoof  and  project 
forward  to  suit  the  case  in  hand,  as  the  higher  the  animal  stands 
on  his  toe,  the  longer  and  higher  the  spur  should  be,  varying 
from  one  to  one  and  one-half  inches.  With  proper  attention  to 
these  points  and  to  leveling  the  foot,  as  per  Fig.  23,  this  shoe 
can  be  applied  with  success. 


Fig.   160.     side  view  of    hoof    shod    for    relief  op  sprained    and    con- 
tracted TENDONS,   WOUNDS   IN   THE  FOOT,   ETC. 
(For  plan  of  shoe,  see  Fig.  162.] 
A,  Coronary  cavity.      B,  Outer  wall.      C,  Side  of  shoe.      D,  Toe  piece 
turned  up.     E,  Heel  calk. 

Fig.  161.  The  same  method  of  preparing  the  foot  as  de- 
scribed for  the  preceding  figure,  is  applicable  to  all  horses  or 
mules  inclined  to  walk  on  their  toes. 


Fig.  161.     side  view  of  another  style  op  shoe  similar  to  Fig.  160. 
(For  plan  of  shoe,  see  Fig.  163.) 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


259 


Fig.  162.  ground  surface 
of  mule  shoe  shown  in  side 
VIEW  OF  HOOF,  Fig.  160. 

A,  B,  rrojecting  toe  piece. 


Fig.  164.  wall-bearing 
surface  op  shoe  shown  in 
Figs.  161  and  163. 

From  these  figures 
(160  to  164)  a  correct  idea 
maybe  obtained  for  mak- 
ing and  applying  the 
shoes  for  the  purpose 
named. 


Fig.  163.  ground  tread  of 
shoe  shown  in  side  view  of 
HOOF,  Fig.  161. 


260 


SCIENTIFIC     HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  i65.    ground  surface  of 

RIGHT       HIND       FOOT      SPREADING 
SHOE,    TO    PREVENT  CROSS-FIRING. 

A,  Heel  calk  to  be  turned  up 
at  end  of  long  outside  branch. 
B,B,B,  Ground  surface  of  shoe, 
the  dotted  line  showing^  its  pro- 
jection over  the  outside  of  foot. 


Fig.  166.  wall-bearing  sur- 
face OF  same  shoe  as  shown  in 
Fig.  132. 

A,  A,  Bevel  on  outside  rim  of 
shoe,  from  wall  bearing  to  ground 
tread.  C,  C,  C,  Flat  wall  bear- 
ing. 


Fig.  165.  Cross-firing  is  caused 
by  unbalanced  feet  and  improperly 
constructed  shoes.  Almost  all  speed 
horses  require  the  sharp  outside  edge 
of  their  front  shoes  to  be  taken 
off  on  the  ground  surface  to  pre- 
vent scalping.  By  examining  and 
comparing  the  stride  of  the  cross- 
firing  foot,  it  will  be  found  that  the 
stride  of  that  member  is  shorter 
than  its  fellow  by  four  to  six  inches, 
causing  an  occasional  hitch  or  hop 
in  the  gait.  In  cases  of  this  kind 
place  a  cross-firing  shoe  like  Fig. 
165  on  the  short  striding  foot,  to 
weigh  four  to  six  ounces  heavier 
than  the  one  on  the  opposite  foot. 
Where  the  horse  cross-fires  with 
both  hind  feet  have  them  shod  with 

hoes  of  equal  weight.     By  lower- 
ing the  inside  toe  and   raising  the 

atside  heel  on  the  long  outside 
1  ranch  of  the  shoe,  the  feet  will  be 
made  to   stand  wider  apart  on  the 

round  and  will  be  thus  carried  out- 
\\ard  from  the  body,  passing  the  front 
I  ;et  without  hitting  or  bruising  the 
inside  ankles  or  shins.  The  success 
of  this  style  of  shoe  is  greatly  de- 
pendent on  the  good  judgment  of 
the  shoer. 

Fig.  167  (on  opposite  page). 
In  bad  cases  of  dragging,  the  ends 
of  toe  calk  should  project  over  the 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


261 


front  rim  of  shoe  one  half  to 
one  inch,  the  projection  being 
crreater  in  proportion  with  the 
increase  of  the  trouble.  Both 
ends  of  the  calk  should  ex- 
tend equally  to  a  straight  line 
across  the  front.  The  clip 
should  be  turned  up  on  same 
angle  with  the  front  of  the 
hoof. 

If  the  foot  is  leveled,  as 
directed  with  Fig.  23,  this 
shoe  will  prevent  the  worst 
form  of  dragging,  as  when  in 
motion  the  weight  passes  over 
the  projecting  toe  calks  the 
foot  will  be  lifted  with  a  quick 
upward  movement.  If  the  front 
toe  of  hoof  is  worn  blunt  by 
dragging,  the  line  of  wall 
must  be  carried  down  to  the 
ground  tread  by  making  the 
shoe  extend  forward  to  meet 
the  angle  of  the  wall,  and  thus 
secure  the  full  length  of  ground 
tread.  This  same  stvle  of  shoe 
w^ill  in  many  cases  stop  forging 
or  clicking. 

Fig.  168.  Hind  foot  shoe 
to  prevent  ankle  hitting.  In 
order  to  determine  how  this  shoe 
is  to  be  worn  the  horse  should 
be  seen  both  in  motion  and  at 
rest.  If  the  foot  twists  in  as  the 


Fig.  107.    hind  foot  shoe,  to  prevent 
dragging  and  forfhng. 

A,  Reversed  bent  toe  calk  from  inner 
center  of  web,  extending  over  each 
side  of  toe  rim.  B,  Center  of  clip,  to 
be  turned  up  in  front  between  the  pro- 
jecting prongs  of  calk. 


Fig.  168.     hind  foot  shoe,  to  pre- 
vent  ANKLE  hitting. 

A,  Toe  calk  on  outside  rim  of 
shoe.  B,  Extension  of  outside 
branch  with  heel  calk  at  end. 
C,  Inside  branch,  with  h'nd  bev- 
eled from  ground  tread  in  line  with 
hoof. 


262  SCIENTIFIC    HORSP]SHOEING. 

heel  leaves  the  ground  he  will  hit  back  of  inside  heel  nail.  I 
have  never  known  a  horse  that  twisted  his  heels  out  ever  to  cut 
or  hit  his  ankles.  A  shoe  made  as  per  Fig.  168  will  turn  the  ' 
foot  outward  from  the  ankle  and  thus  avoid  any  interference. 
The  outside  heel  calk  at  B  should  be  as  high  as  the  case  may 
require,  say  from  f  to  |  inch.  The  inside  branch  to  be  gradually 
thinned  down  from  last  nail  hole  to  end  at  C,  and  the  shoe  to  be 
fitted  snug  to  the  foot  around  that  side. 

Use  and  Abuse  of  Tips. — Tips  should  not  be  used  indis- 
criminately, the  build  and  construction  of  a   horse's  legs  and 
pasterns  must  be  duly  considered;  for  instance,  tips  will  be  in- 
jurious if  horse  has  long  sloping  pasterns  whereby  the  line  of 
weight  inclines  forward  out  of  the  vertical.     On  the  other  hand, 
short  upright  pasterns  where  legs  are  perpendicular  or  inclined 
back  under  the  body,  have  feet  at  such  an  angle  (say  55°)  for 
the  successful  use  of  tips.     Such  horses  wear  the  toes  of  shoes 
more  than  the  heels,  and  a  toe-tip  is  all  that  is  needed,  therefore, 
to  protect   the  hoof  from  undue  wear.     A  great   majority  of 
horses,  however,  are  adapted  to  the  use  of  tips,  and  I  think  they 
would  be  better  off  from  such  use  on  the  front  feet  than  other- 
wise.   By  wearing  tips  the  front  feet  would  escape  corns,  bruised 
heels,    quarter-cracks,    contraction,    thrush,    sore    tendons,    leg 
weariness,  interference  or  cutting  and  such  like  ills  to  which 
horseflesh    is   heir — more    from    clumsy,  misfitting  shoes,  than 
from  all  other  causes  combined.    In  some  sections  of  the  country 
too,    where,    in   wet   weather,    the    soil    is    sticky,  heavy  clay,, 
horses  are  apt  to  pick  up  "  balls,"  which  pack  and  wedge  up  in 
the  foot  under  full   shoes  and   becoming  dry  and   hard,  soon 
causes  lameness,  whereas  the  use  of  tips  would  avoid  such  re- 
sults.    AVhen  used,  narrow  tips  are  far  preferable  to  wide  ones, 
as  it  is  well  known  that  horses  do  not  wear  out  from  overwork 
so    much   as   from  mismanagement  and  overweighting  of  the 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING.  263 

feet.  Good  judgment  is  required  in  applying  tips:  first,  exam- 
ine the  formation  of  wall  and  sole;  if  the  sole  is  cup-form  or 
well  arched,  this  style  of  foot  can  be  most  successfully  tipped. 
The  foot  should  not  be  pared  off  at  toe  and  heels  so  low  for  tips 
as  for  full  shoes,  as  the  tips  have  to  be  let  in  the  wall  flush  with 
the  ground  tread.  In  this  way  the  angle  of  foot  is  in  no  wise 
chanofed  and  the  wear  will  be  even  all  over.  From  two  to  three 
nails  on  each  side  of  tips  will  suflice  to  hold  them  on  firmly. 
Punch  for  a  low,  short,  thick  hold  inclining  the  nail  out- 
wardly to  avoid  cramping  the  foot.  Tips  can  be  used  to  ad- 
vantage on  colts  for  first  shoeings  in  breaking  them,  also  on  dirt 
roads  and  the  natural  exercise  of  frog  pressure  will  develop  the 
foot  into  a  strong  and  healthy  organ.  The  tips  are  to  be  bev- 
eled ofl'  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  web,  so  as  to  follow  the  angle 
of  the  foot. 

Sharpening,  or  Winter  Shoeing. — In  many  instances, 
winter  shoeing  presents  fresh  difiiculties,  for  the  shoes  have  then 
to  do  a  double  duty — to  secure  the  foot-hold  as  well  as  to  pro- 
tect the  foot.  Toe  and  heel  calkins  are  almost  always  employed 
as  best  suiting  the  requirements  of  each  case.  In  all  cases, 
however,  these  should  be  short  and  sharp,  as  then  the  foot  will 
be  kept  nearer  the  ground,  at  the  same  time  they  will  answer 
every  purpose  for  a  firm  catch  upon  the  hard  or  slippery  ice,  and 
the  horse  will  be  less  liable  to  rock  sidewise,  thus  avoiding  in- 
jury or  joint  lameness.  For  ordinary  workhorses,  toe  and  heel 
calkins  are  all  that  are  required ;  and,  as  a  rule,  it  is  better  to 
sharpen  the  outside  heel  calk. lengthwise,  or  from  front  to  back, 
as  by  so  doing  side  slips  will  be  avoided  and  strains  on  the  joints 
and  tendons  be  prevented.  For  speed  horses,  side  heel  calks 
are  better  for  the  front  shoes  than  mere  end  calks,  as  the  horse 
is  not  so  apt  to  strike  and  pull  ofi'  the  front  shoes  with  his  hind 


264 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEI?^G. 


feet  when  at  speed ;  also,  the  feet  will  not  slip  in  or  out  so  easily 
this  way.  The  hind  feet  can  in  most  cases  be  shod  with  ordinary 
turned  up  heels,  as  this  will  assist  in  preventing  the  "  calking" 
of  one  hind  foot  by  the  other.  Side  heel  calks  ought  to  he 
placed  on  the  inside  branch  of  the  shoe,  near  the  heel,  as  this 
will  lessen  the  danger  of  wounding  the  opposite  member. 

All  about  Calks. — It  should,  however,  never  be  lost  sight 
of  that  the  shorter,  sharper  and  smaller  the  calkins  are,  so  long 
as  they  answer  the  purpose  for  which  they  are  intended,  so  much 
the  better  for  the  foot  that  wears  them.  High  calkins,  while 
they  confer  no  firmer  foothold,  may  easily  become  a  source  of 
injury,  both  to  the  foot  itself  and  the  limb  at  large.  It  is  only 
from  that  portion  of  the  catch  which  enters  the  ground  surface 
that  the  horse  derives  any  benefit  in  the  shape  of  foothold  ;  and 
it  must  be  apparent  to  every  one  that  long  calkins  have  no  ad- 
vantages in  this  respect  over  moderately  short  ones  on  hard,  un- 
even ground,  while  they  present  many  other  disadvantages,  on 
which  I  have  already  laid  particular  stress  in  Chaps.  IV  and  VI. 


Bracing  or  Crutch 
Shoes.— Fig.  169  is  a 
style  of  shoe  for  the  right 
front  foot,  used  to  brace 
up  the  weak  ankle  or 
pastern  that  leans  in,  so 
as  to  prevent  the  horse 
from  hitting  and  bruising 
the  inside  of  the  front 
leg.  I  have  used  this 
shoe  with  the  most  satis- 
factory results. 


Fig.  160.     right  fkoxt  shoe. 
A,  Too  ar.d  heel  calkins,  inside  shoe. 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


265 


Fis:.  170  is  intended  for 
the  left  front  foot,  when  the 
pastern  leans  out.  As  the 
left  foot  passes  over  the  out- 
side toe  it  takes  an  inward 
sweep,  thus  hitting  and 
bruising  the  opposite  leg. 
The  projection  of  the  toe 
calkin,  A,  beyond  the  outer 
edge  of  the  shoe,  must  suit 
tlie  case  in  hand.  I  have 
known  of  a  toe  calkin  in 
such  instance  to  project  at 
least  an  inch.  The  outside 
heel  calkin,  set  as  at  C,  will 
materially  support  the  out- 
side  pastern. 


Fig.  171.     split  bar  shoe. 


Fig.  170.     left  front  shoe. 

A,  Toe  calkin.     B,  Inside  heel  calkin. 
J,  Outside  heel  calkin. 


The  use  of  this  shoe 
will  be  found  of  practical 
benefit  when  outside  quar- 
ters are  wired  under  and 
badly  contracted.  Such 
defects  cause  the  quarters 
to  wear  excessively  on 
the  outside.  The  outside 
heel  calkin  and  the  inside 
heel  calkin  should  be  set 
as  at  A  and  D,  respect- 
iveh',  thus  increasing  the 
full  o;round  tread,  while 
lessening  the  inside.  Bev- 
eling around  the  toe,  B, 


A,  Outside   heel   calkin.    B,  B,  Bevel      B,  according  to  the  neces- 
around  toe.     C,  Split  bar.     D,  Inside  heel  ° 

calkin.  sities  of  the  case  in  hand. 


2GG 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING, 


allows  the  foot  to  break  over 
the  toe  more  easily  and  pre- 
vents stumbling.  Allowing 
tlie  bar  to  remain  open,  as 
at  C,  gives  the  heels  greater 
freedom  to  expand  and  con- 
tract at  each  footfall.  Plac- 
ing the  calkins  as  shown  in 
diagram  tends  to  equalize 
the  pressure  through  cleft 
of  frog  and  center  of  leg, 
thus  strengthening  the  weak 
joints.  If  the  foot  is  pared 
and  the  shoe  made  and  fit-         Fiq.  170.    broad  bar  beveled  shoe. 

ted  according  toinstructions,  B,  B,  Eevel— broadest  at  toe,  lessen- 

-,.-,-,.  .  1     ii         iiiiX  toward  tlie  heel. 

a  decided  improvement  both         ° 

in  the  foot  and  its  action  will  result  in  straightforward  movement. 
The  shoe  illustrated  in  Fig.  172  gives  througli  the  broad, 

wide  bar  a  strong  frog  pres- 
sure for  weak  heels  and 
quarters.  It  is  well  con- 
caved on  sole  bearing  sur- 
face, being  of  greatest  bevel 
at  the  toe  and  lessening  to- 
ward the  heels.  AVeak  feet 
alwavs  obtain  the  best  of 
protection  from  a  stiff,  wide- 
webbed  shoe,  and  this  style 
can  be  successfully  used  for 
quarter  cracks,  sore  tendons 
and  flat  feet. 

This  form  of  shoe  (Fig. 

Fig.  173.    left  iiixd  shoe.  173)  will    serve  as  a  crutch 

A   Calkin.  '^0     support    weak     pastern 


SPECIFIC    AM)    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


267 


joints — the  cause  of  a  horse's  cutting  defect.  Before  shoeing, 
observe  both  from  the  front  and  rear  how  much  the  ankle  leans 
in,  and  place  the  side  calkin  as  shown  in  diagram,  high  enough 
to  straighten  the  pastern  under  the  foot  and  leg,  bearing  in 
mind  always  that  the  main  object  is  to  strengthen  the  weak 
parts  of  the  pastern  joints. 

The  figure  herewith  (Fig.  174)  represents  a  pattern  of  a 
bracinor  shoe  to  correct  cut- 
ting  inside  point  of  toe,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  efiective 
of  the  bracing  shoes.  Place 
calkin  at  inside  of  toe,  as 
at  A,  to  serve  as  a  brace; 
another  at  outside,  as  B,  and 
a  side  heel  calkin  on  the 
outside  branch.  The  effect 
of  this  shoe  will  be  to  cause 
the  foot  to  drop  outward 
and  allow  the  opposite  foot 
to  pass  the  ankle  without 
hitting  or  bruising  it. 

The  shoe  following  (Fig. 
175)  is  designed  to  prevent 

ankle  hitting.  The  foot  in  its  motion  strikes  the  opposite 
hind  ankle  at  B.  Weld  side  heel  calkin  as  at  B.  Gradually 
thin  down  heel  of  shoe  from  inside  heel  calkin  to  inside 
branch  of  heel.  Notice  the  forward  movement  of  the  foot,  as 
it  leaves  the  ground.  Place  a  toe  calkin  as  at  A,  allowing 
it  to  project  beyond  the  outside  of  the  shoe  from  one-half  to 
three-quarters  of  an  inch.  Turn  heel  calkin  on  at  outside 
branch  of  shoe,  and  thus  shaped  it  will  prevent  an  inward 
dip  as  the  foot  leaves  the  ground,  thus  obviating  the  ankle 
bruising. 

18 


Fig.  174.     shoe  to  correct  cuttint}  in- 
side  PoiNT  OF  TOE. 


268 


SCIENTIFIC    HUKSESHOEING. 


':i|ll;{|ii!lli[illl|ll|||inil| 


hitting 


Fig.  175.     shoe  to  prevent  anki.e  hitting. 
A,  Projecting  toe  calkin.     B,  Side  heel  calkin. 

Fi^.  176  is  auotlier  model  of  hiii<l  sIkjg  to  prevent  ankle 
If  the  toe  of 
the  foot  tilts  in,  place  an 
inside  toe  calkin  as  at  A, 
and  a  side  hcol  calkin  as 
at  B.  Then  turn  a  heel 
on  the  outside  hranch  of 
the  shoe.  Always  en- 
deavor hy  studying  the 
action  to  locate  the  cause 
of  ankle  hitting,  as  the 
same  style  of  shoe  that 
will  stop  one  horse  will 
not  always  stop  another. 
I  have  used  all  the  fore- 
going styles  of  shoes  with 
the  best  results  on  differ-  Fig.  17^.  shoe  to  prevent  ankle  hitting. 
ent  horses.  A,  B,  Inside  toe  and  heel  calkins. 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


269 


A,  Coffin  bone. 

B,  Navicular  bone. 

C,  Lower  pastern  bone. 

D,  Upper  pastern  bone. 

E,  Cannon  bone. 

F,  Velvety  tissue,  or  sen- 
sitive sole, 

G,  Horny  wall. 
H,  Horny  sole. 
I,  Horny  frog. 

K,  Plantar  cushion,  or 
sensitive  sole. 

L,  Horny  larainfe. 

M,  Sensitive  laminae. 

N,  Front  extensor  tendon. 

O,  Perforatus  (superficial 
flexor. 

P,  Perforans  (deep  flexor 
of  the  foot,  inserted  under 
the  coffin  bone. 

E,  Suspensory  ligament  of 
the  fetlock. 

S,  Sesamoid  bone  (dotted 
line). 

T,  P>ranch  of  perforatus 
tendon  attached  to  lower 
pastern  bone. 

U,  line  of  deflection  from 
V,  caused  by  knuckling. 


Fig.  177.     sectional  view  of  foot. 


Knuckling  Shoes. — Fig.  177  is  a  sectional  view  of  foot, 
lower  and  upper  pastern  bones,  and  end  of  cannon  or  shank 
bone.  The  line  from  C  to  V  shows  the  natural  direction  of  the 
foot,  when  the  coffin  bone  is  in  a  healthy,  normal  condition  ;  C 
to  U  shows  the  deflection  from  the  natural  course  in  a  bad  case 
of  knuckling.  The  difference  may  be  readily  seen  by  compar- 
ing Fig.  177  with  Fig.  178,  after  the  shoe  (Fig.  179;  and  Fig. 
180,  showing  section  of  ground  tread)  is  nailed  to  the  foot. 
This  shoe  (Figs.  179  and  179a)  is  easily  made  by  welding  toe 
calk  in  front  of  shoe,  as  shown  (Fig.  179a).  The  height  of 
tlie  toe  calk  should  vary  according  to  the  case  in  hand.  The 
heels  of  shoe  should  be  beveled  on  the  ground  tread,  as  shown 
at  B,  B,  Fig.  179  ;  and  Fig.  179a  shows  a  side  view  of  the  front 


270 


SCIENTIFIC    HOKSESHOEINGl. 


toe  calkin  on 
ground  tread, 
and  the  point,  C, 
at  wliicli  to  com- 
mence to  bend 
the  front  i)art  of 
shoe  down  from 
the  toe.  Fig.  178 
shows  the  posi- 
tion of  the  pas- 
terns and  foot 
after  it  has  been 
dressed  and  tlie 
shoe  nailed  to  it. 
I  liave  been 
V  e  r  y  successful 
in  usino-this  style 
of  shoe  in  ex- 
treme cases  of 
knuckling,  espe- 


riiiiP"i"i'nri'^ri'M''""""'''''"'"'''''''"^ 


Figs.  179  and  179a. 


Fig.  178. 

cially  in  colts  of  yarious 
as:es,  from  six  months  to 
two  years,  Eyen  aged 
i  horses  can  be  thus  bene- 
fited. This  explanation 
should  be  sufficient,  as  the 
cuts  speak  for  themselyes. 
B}'  using  the  shoe  as  here 
ilhistrated,  the  pastern  can 
bo  quickly  straightened 
and  the  ground  tread  of 
f(K)t  be  forced  to  its  natu- 
ral position.  The  ten- 
dons, ligaments  and  l)ones 


SPECIFIC    AND    KEMEDIAL    SHOEIXG. 


271 


of  a  colt  are  naturally  teiuler,  mid  that  is  the  time  for  this  treat- 
ment for  knuckling ;  for  if  the  colt  he  allowed  to  run  until  it 
has  matured  into  a  full-grown  horse,  not  only  may  it  be  impossi- 
ble to  effect  a  permanent  cure,  but  after  the  members  become  con- 
tracted it  is  somewhat  doubtful  if  anv  cure  at  all  can  be  effected. 

This  invaluable  form  of 
front  shoe  I  designed  to 
remedy  either  an  inner  or 
outer  contraction  of  the 
quarter.  The  ground  tread 
is  to  be  changed  as  shown 
at  A.  Punch  the  nail  holes 
inclining  outwardly.  By  do- 
ing this  the  nails  open  the 
foot  to  some  extent,  and 
have  a  tendency  to  unlock 
the  bound  quarter  and  give 
almost  instant  relief. 
Fig.  180.    ground  tread.  ^ig.  181  illustrates    the 

A,  S'aowing  change  of  ground  tread.  sole,  or  wall  bearing  con- 
cave on  sound  natural  quar- 
ters, as  shown  at  A,  and  bevel 
out  as  shown  at  B,  the  bevel 
being  outwardly  from  the  in- 
ner web  of  the  shoe  to  the 
outer  marerin.  As  the  weight 
of  the  horse  falls  on  the  shoe, 
it  will  have  a  tendency  to 
press  the  contracted  quar- 
ters outwardly  at  every  foot- 
fall and  give  relief  to  the 
affected  parts. 

Fig.  181.     sole  bearing. 


272 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


This  shoe  (Fig.  182)  I 
have  always  used,  with  the 
best  results,  in  preventing  toe 
dragging,  and  in  many  cases  to 
stop  forging.  Always  exam- 
ine the  pastern  before  shoeing. 
If  it  stands  back,  place  a  side 
heel  calkin  on  the  shoe,  to 
raise  it  up  on  a  line  with  the 
front  part  of  the  foot,  wliich  is 
the  correct  position  at  rest. 
This  will  cause  the  joints  of 
the  pastern  to  work  smoothly 
and  properly.  To  make  this 
shoe,  take  an  old  rasp,  weld 
on  the  front  toe  of  shoe  and 


Fig.  182.     shoe  to   prevent  toe 
dragging. 


fmni 


Fig.  183.  shoe  to  prevent  toe  dragging— side  view. 


SPECIFIC    AM)    REMEDIAL    SHOEING. 


273 


cut  oH'  the  length  to  that  extent  which  the  exigencies  of  each 
case  require.  This  projecting  toe  calkin  should  be  extended,  on 
experimental  trial,  till  the  horse  no  longer  strikes  and  wears 
away  the  hind  hoof  at  the  toe,  by  interference  with  the  diag- 
onally opposite  front  shoe. 

Fig.  183  shows  the  shoe,  known  as  the  shoe  to  prevent  toe 
dragging,  nailed  to  the  foot,  the  extension  of  the  shoe  beyond 
the  toe,  on  a  line  with  the  front  pastern,  and  front  wall  of  foot 
to  ground  tread.  The  dotted  line  shows  where  the  front  wall  of 
foot  ought  to  come.  Making  the  shoe  to  extend  over,  it  takes 
the  foot  longer  to  get  over  the  toe  and  retards  the  action 
behind  ;  allowing  the  front  foot  to  get  out  of  the  way  of  the 
hind  f(jot,  will  thus  prevent  forging.  I  li::ve  always  found  this 
shoe  to  prevent  toe  dragging  and  forging  very  useful. 

This  half  bar  shoe  (Fig.  184)  I  use  for  contraction  in  the 
outside  heel  and  quarters,  in  case  the  frog  is  pushed  to  one 
side.  I  place  the  bar  of  the  shoe  so  as  to  rest  lightly  on  one- 
half  of  the  frog — that  is,  on  the  side  of  the  foot  wiring  under. 

I  simply  fit  the  shoe  neatly 
and  firmly  to  the  foot.  A, 
A,  and  B,  B,  represent  side 
toe  and  heel  calkins.  Then 
bevel  the  toe  in  front  as 
shown  in  diagram.  This 
will  allow  the  horse  to  roll 
over  the  toe  more  easily  in 
tlie  forward  movement. 
Bevel  the  shoe  as  shown  in 
Fig.  ISl,  on  the  wall  bear- 
ing, for  contracted  and  wired 
in    quarters.     This  style  of 

^      ,„,  shoe  serves  as  a  support  to 

Fig.  184.     half  bar  shoe.  ^  ^ 

.     .     c.- 1    ^  11-        T,    -r,   c-j       assist  nature  in  restoring  the 

A,  A,  iSide  toe   calkins.     B,   B,  bide  ° 

heel  calkins.  foot  to  its  normal  condition. 


274  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

Hitching,  its  Causes  and  Cure. — Hitching  and  hopping 
are  defects  so  common  tliat  I  wish  to  say  a  word  about  them, 
inasmuch  as  I  have  been  requested  to  do  so;  and  while  I  know 
that  no  two  individuals  agree  upon  this  important  matter,  I  am 
glad  to  i)ut  forward  my  theory,  if  only  to  draw  out  others.  The 
defect  is  mostly  confined  to  the  hind  legs;  but  there  are  some 
instances — notably  that  of  the  famous  trotting  mare,  Lida  Bas- 
sett — of  hitching  in  the  front  leg.  As  she  was  one  of  the  fast- 
est in  her  day,  the  example  will  be  a  good  one.  When  she  was 
up  to  her  speed,  the  stride  of  her  left  front  foot  was  some  four 
inches  longer  than  that  of  her  right  front  foot.  It  was  some 
time  before  the  trainer  knew  the  cause  or  her  hitching. 

When  I  first  began  to  study  up  the  causes  of  this  defect,  I 
assigned  it  to  several,  and  later  experience  has  borne  me  out. 
First,  the  feet  may  be  unbalanced,  or  improperly  Aveighted  in 
front ;  second,  illy  made  and  poorly  fitted  shoes  in  front  may 
cause  the  horse  to  scalp  her  coronet  on  the  inside  pastern  ; 
third,  drawing  too  much  weight  when  up  to  speed  may  be  a 
source  of  the  trouble ;  fourth,  too  long  drives  when  out  of  con- 
dition may  cause  hitching;  fifth,  being  overdriven  when  short 
of  work;  and  sixth,  hitching  may  spring  from  curb,  ring-bone, 
or  spavin. 

It  may,  however,  be  maintained  that  a  most  frequent  cause 
of  hitching  is  unbalanced  or  improperly  weighted  feet.  These 
cause  a  horse  to  lose  his  natural  stride.  For  instance,  taking 
oflT  front  shoes  of  fifteen  or  eighteen  ounces,  to  which  weights 
the  horse  has  become  accustomed,  and  substituting  shoes  of  less 
weight,  will  make  a  vast  difference.  But  whatever  may  be  the 
cause  of  hitching  behind,  it  will  always  be  found  by  measuring 
the  stride  of  the  hitching  leg  and  foot,  that  it  is  from  four  to 
seven  inches  shorter  than  the  other.  Curb,  ring-bone  and 
spavin  often  cause  hitching  and  hopping  in  the  leg  affected  with 
any  of  these  disorders.  An  excellent  method  of  overcoming 
the  defect  from  these  sources  is  to  shoe  the  hitching  leg  with  a 


SPECIFIC    AND    REMEDIAL    SHOEl.NCr.  275 

hind-foot  shoe  to  weigh  from  five  to  seven  ounces  more  than 
the  other  hind-foot  shoe.  This  added  weis^ht  will  carrv  the 
foot  and  leg  longer  in  the  stride.  It  will  also  be  found,  which- 
ever hind  leg  hitches,  the  stride  of  the  opposite  front  foot  will 
be  shorter.  For  instance,  if  the  hitching  takes  place  in  the  left 
hind  leg,  from  any  cause,  the  front  right  leg  will  have  a  shorter 
stride.  By  placing  upon  the  right  front  foot  a  shoe  weighing 
three  or  four  ounces  more  than  the  left  front  foot,  the  former 
will  be  lengthened  in  its  stride. 

Having  ascertained  the  uneven  gait  and  taken  its  measure- 
ment, the  next  thing  is  to  set  about  the  treatment.  I  found 
Lida  Bassett,  for  instance,  hitching  with  her  right  front  foot. 
I  welded  a  spur  to  the  toe  of  the  shoo,  turned  up  with  the  front 
angle  of  the  foot,  and  slipped  over  it  a  small  brass  weight  of 
three  ounces.  Thereupon  her  front  strides  became  equal  and 
her  movement  was  as  smooth  and  uniform  as  the  pendulum  of  a 
clock.  A  great  many  speed  horses  act  badly  when  up  to  speed, 
for  the  reason  that  their  strides  in  front  are  not  equal  in  length 
at  each  footfall.  In  such  a  case,  I  shoe  the  front  feet  with  the 
heavier  shoe  on  the  hitching  foot,  the  weight  determined  by  the 
circumstances. 

In  general,  to  cure  a  horse  of  hitching,  the  farrier  should 
first  learn  the  weights  in  front  and  behind  the  horse  is  accus- 
tomed to  when  he  trots  squarely.  Next  find  out  at  what  gait 
he  begins  hitching.  Notice  all  the  peculiarities  and  even  ques- 
tion the  driver.  But  the  most  important  is  to  see  that  the  feet 
are  properly  balanced  and  under  the  body.  Then,  having 
studied  the  horse  and  learned  all  his  defects  and  peculiarities, 
shoe  him  to  correct  them  all  according  to  the  instructions  here- 
tofore given.  It  may  become  a  matter  of  more  or  less  experi- 
ment, but  practical  experience  and  good  judgment  are  the 
handmaids  of  success  in  scientific  farriery.     Cultivate  them. 


276  SCIENTIFiC    HORSESHOEING. 

Shoeing  for  Relief  and  Ease  from  Ringbone. — For  the 
benefit  of  the  reader,  I  insert  here  a  suggestion  as  to  some  shoes 
which  can  be  used  for  relief  and  ease  from  rincrbone.  In  each 
case  the  shoes  are  to  be  made  to  assist  bim  in  the  work  he  has 
to  perform.  The  general  shoe  is  the  one  described  upon  page 
140,  Fig.  35.  When  the  subject  is  a  general  business  horse,  the 
shoe  described  upon  page  213,  Fig.  101 ;  when  speed  or  road 
borses  are  concerned,  page  232,  Fig.  121. 

If  scoop  be  taken  out  of  shoe  on  the  ground  tread,  as  far 
around  as  the  two  front  nails  at  the  toe  (see  Fig.  121,  page  232), 
the  jar  at  each  footfall  will  be  lessened  around  the  affected 
parts.  An  easy  method  of  lessening  the  concussion  at  each 
footfall  is  to  make  an  opening  between  the  shoe  and  front  wall 
of  foot  large  enough  to  slip  in  a  No.  9  horseshoe  nail.  This 
relieves  the  affected  parts  at  each  footfall,  at  the  apex  of  the  os 
pedis. 


A    TABLEAU    OF    HORSESHOES.  277 


CHAPTER  X. 
A  TABLEAU   OF  HORSESHOES, 

OLD   AND    NEW   STYLES   PICTURED   AND   COMPAHED. 

To  carry  out  the  subject  of  this  book  still  further  and  to 
•show  at  a  glance  the  progress  that  has  been  made  in  the  whole 
scheme  and  staple  of  horseshoeing  within  our  generation,  cover- 
ing a  period  of  thirty-five  years,  a  regular  progressive  series  of 
different  designs  of  shoes  is  here  introduced  in  order  to  exhibit 
as  clearly  as  possible  the  passing  stages  of  advancement  in  the 
art  by  the  several  styles  of  shoes  in  use  at  various  times  for 
various  purposes  until  they  were  gradually  relegated  or  su- 
perseded by  more  modern  patterns  of  ingenious  workmanship 
and  skill,  which  accomplish  wonders  in  balancing  the  action  and 
leveling  the  gait  of  horses,  or  are  admirably  effective  in  remedy- 
ing or  curing  many  of  the  faulty  movements  and  morbid  affec- 
tions of  the  feet  and  legs.  "  Scientific  horseshoeing,"  with  all  that 
the  term  implies,  is  thus  seen  to  be  the  outcome  of  many  previous 
years  of  experimental  tests  before  it  came  to  "the  parting  of  the 
ways"  which  led  it  from  speculative  regions  to  the  place  which 
it  now  occupies — as  an  art  built  on  scientific  principles.  The 
shoes  and  tools  grouped  in  the  cases — Figs.  186  to  190 — formed 
part  of  my  display  at  the  World's  Fair,  at  Chicago,  1893,  and 
were  awarded  the  First  Premium,  Medals  and  Diploma. 

In  addition  to  the  shoes  shown  in  these  cases,  a  large  num- 
ber of  still  more  recent  patterns  are  illustrated  in  the  preceding 
pages  of  this  book — from  designs  which  I  have  made  since  the 
close  of  the  World's  Fair. 


278 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEIxNG. 


Fig.  ISG.     Ca«e  No.  1. 
Improved  Tools  for  Scientific  Horseshoeing. 


FIG.    186.      CASE    NO.    1.  279 


In  tools,  as  in  evi-ry  thing  else,  the  best  is  the  cheapest,  and  this  case  rep- 
resents tlie  best  products  of  ingenuity  and  mechanical  skill  of  the  various 
articles  niade  to  serve  the  most  useful  purposes  of  experts  in  farriery.  There 
are  many  shoeing  smiths  who  still  i)ursue  tiie  same  routine  of  shop  work  that 
their  ancestors  did  of  old.  No  modern  tools.  No  improved  methodc.  Ami 
considering  the  improvements  made  in  other  pursuits  are  actually  as  much  in 
the  rut  tu-day  as  were  the  rur:d  blacksmiths  of  generations  ago.  AVhiie  this 
is  so,  it  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  better  facilities  for  doing  better  and  quicker 
work  results  in  more  trade  and  more  popular  satisfaction  every  time.  This 
aCbrds  the  most  conclusive  evidence  that  the  best  tools  are  indispensable  to 
the  enterprising  farrier,  and  this  case  embraces  every  thing  that  properly  be- 
longs to  this  class  of  goods.     The  list  includes  the  following  articles: 

No.    1.  Driving  Hammer,  weight,  i;>  ounces. 

2.  Pincers. 

3.  Clinch  Cutter. 

4.  Horse  Easp,  size,  14  inches. 

6.  Foot  Hook. 

7.  Rasp,  size,  16  inches. 

8.  Spreader,  for  operating  on  diseased  hoofs. 

0,  10,  11,  12,  44,  45,  46.     Farriers  Knives  of  various  sizes,  No.  11  an 

extra  blade  without  handle. 
13,  15,  16,     Hand  Ilamuters  of  various  weights. 
17,18.     Fire  Tongs. 

19,  21.     Creasers,  light  and  heavy  bitted. 

20,  39.     Stamps  or  Punches. 

22,  23,  24.     Plain  and  Countersunk  Pritchells  for  stamping  shoes. 
26.     Russell's  Foot  Adjuster,  fitted  to  a  horse's  hoof. 

30.  Center  Punch  or  Prick  for  nail  piercing. 

31.  Three  Square  Iron  or  Steel  Cutter. 

33.  Foot  Tester. 

34.  Hoof  Cutting  Nippers. 

35.  Nail  Clincher. 

47.  Russell's  Bed  Plate  for  leveling  the  foot. 

48.  Adjustable  Compass  for  measuring  height  of  hoof. 

49.  50.     Farrier's  Clasps  or  Pocket  Knives. 
51,53.     Whetstones. 

52.  Three  Square  File  for  dressing  knives. 

54.  Froat  to  rasp  teeth. 

55.  Sledge,  Aveight,  7  pounds. 

56.  Double  Rasp. 

57.  Half  Round  bastard  Hot  Filing  Rasp. 

89.  Steel  Rule,  0  inches,  for  measuring  hoofs. 

90.  Adjustable  Calipers  to  verify  measurements  around  hoof. 


280 


SCIENTIFIC     I10K.Si:SHOEING. 


Fig.  1S7.     Case  No.  2. 


FIG.    187.       CASE    NO.    2.  281 


No.    1.  Hind  bar  shoe,  -worn  by  trotter  "  Clementine." 

2.  Front  four  calkin  shoe,  see  book,  Fig  80. 

3.  Hind  four  calkin  shoe,  see  book,  Fig.  112. 

4.  Front  scooped  grab  too  shoe. 

5.  Front  toe  weight  shoe  to  balance  action,  old  style,  1862. 

6.  Front  shoe  concaved  on  inner  rim. 

7.  Shoe  concaved  on  inner  quarters  to  prevent  picking  stones,  old 

style,  18G0. 

8.  Front  winter  shoe  with  sharp  toe  and  heel  calkins. 

9.  Front  rim  shoe  to  prevent  knee  hitting,  see  Fig.  82. 

10.  Front  too  weight  shoe,  see  Fig.  97. 

11.  Front  toe  weight  shoe,  see  Fig.  9G; 

12.  Front  toe  weight  shoe  to  make  pacers  trot. 

13.  Front  shoe  with  toe  calk  for  trotters,  old  style,  1848. 

14.  Front  bar  shoe  (old  style.) 

15.  Front  concaved  shoe  for  saddle  horses. 

16.  Front  navicular  shoe,  worn  by  "  Proteine,"  see  Fig.  63. 

17.  Hind  shoe  for  curb  and  sore  tendons. 

18.  Front  scooped  toe  mud  shoe,  old  style,  1860. 

19.  Front  rim  shoe. 

20.  Front  heart  sunk  bar  shoe,  old  style,  1861. 

21.  Front  round  shoe,  old  style. 

22.  Front  shoe  for  fiat  feet,  see  Fig.  35. 

23.  Front  shoe  for  draft  horse.  Fig.  102. 

24.  Front  scooped  toe  shoe,  see  Fig.  89. 

25.  Front  shoe  for  ankle  and  knee  hitting,  old  style. 

26.  Hind  shoe  to  lessen  stride,  old  style. 

27.  Front  scooped  toe  rolling  motion  rim  shoe. 

28.  Hind  shoe  for  draft  liorse,  see  Fig.  33. 

29.  Front  shoe  for  draught  horse,  see  Fig.  32. 

30.  Front  concave  shoe  for  saddle  horse. 

31.  Mule  shoe,  see  Fig.  56. 

32.  Hind  shoe  for  ankle  hitting,  see  Fig.  84. 

33.  Racing  plate,  see  Fig.  30. 

34.  Hind  shoe  for  ankle  hitting,  old  style. 

35.  Front  shoe  for  ankle  hitting,  old  style. 

36.  Front  side  weight  shoe,  old  style,  1876. 

37.  Front  shoe  for  bar  pressure. 

38.  Front  shoe  for  enlarging  ground  tread,  old  style,  1861, 

39.  Front  rim  shoe,  nails  set  for  low  thick  hold,  1861. 

40.  Hind  three  quarter  shoe  for  ankle  cutting,  old  style. 

41.  Hind  shoe  to  straighten  foot  under  leg. 


282 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  ISS.     Case  No.  3. 


FIG.   188.      CASE   NO.    3.  283 


No.  42.  Hind  shoe,  worn  by  trotter  "  Thomas  Jefferson." 

43.  Front  side  weight  shoe  for  ankle  and  knee  hitting. 

44.  Front  scooped  toe  shoe  for  stumbUng,  see  Fig.  95. 

45.  Hind  shoe  for  quarter  grabbing. 

46.  Front  concaved  shoe  for  trotters,  old  style. 

47.  Front  non-paddling  shoe,  see  Fig.  104. 

48.  Front  shoe  beveled  from  toe  to  heels,  worn  by  "  Thos.  Jefferson." 

49.  Hind  square  toe  shoe  for  ankle  hitting,  old  style,  byS.  T.  H.,  1873. 

50.  Hind  shoe  for  trotters,  old  style 

51.  Tip  shoe,  old  style. 

52.  Hind  scooped  toe  shoe,  old  style,  see  Fig.  116. 

53.  Front  shoe  for  ankle  and  knee  hitting,  old  style,  by  S.  T.  H.,  1873. 

54.  Front  bar  shoe,  worn  by  "  Goldsmith  Maid,"  1871,  see  Fig.  90. 

55.  Front  modified  "  Centennial"  shoe,  by  S.  T.  H.,  see  Fig.  87. 

56.  Front  rolling  motion  shoe,  No.  1,  see  Fig.  93. 

57.  Front  shoe  for  forging,  etc.,  see  Fig.  91. 

58.  Front  shoe  for  knee  hitting. 

59.  Front  raised  spring  bar  shoe,  see  Fig.  88. 

60.  Front  "  Centennial "  shoe,  by  S.  T.  H.,  see  Fig.  85. 

61.  Front  shoe  for  roadsters. 

62.  Front  spring  heel  shoe  for  contraction. 

63.  Hind  shoe  for  knuckling. 

64.  Front  shoe  concaved  and  thin  at  heels. 

65.  Hind  scooped  toe  shoe. 

66.  Front  shoe  for  knee  hitting,  by  S.  T.  H. 

67.  Front  shoe  modified  "  Centennial." 

68.  Front  side  weight  shoe  for  knee  hitting,  see  Fig.  100. 

69.  Hind  shoe  for  quarter  grabbing. 

70.  Hind  rolling  motion  shoe,  old  style. 

71.  Front  bar  shoe  grooved  for  slipping,  old  style. 

72.  Front  grooved  center  shoe,  worn  by  "American  Girl,"  weight, 

31  ounces,  see  trotting  record,  page  118. 

73.  Front  rim  bar  shoe,  nailed  at  toe,  old  style. 

74.  Hind  concaved  shoe,  old  style. 

75.  Front  shoe  concaved  quarters,  old  style  trotters,  1862. 

76.  Front  shoe  concaved,  old  style. 

77.  Plain  shoe. 

78.  Hind  shoe  for  knuckling,  see  Fig.  71. 

The  center  of  this  case  is  occupied  by  a  display  of  medals  which  I  have 
received  on  similar  exhibits  of  shoes,  etc.,  at  various  expositions  throughout 
the  country.      See  page  vii-x. 
19 


284 


SCIENTIFIC    HOR8ESHOEING. 


Fig.  189.    Case  No.  4. 


FIG.    189.      CASE   NO.   4.  285 


Ko.    79.  Front  concaved  rolling  motion  shoe  to  change  front  action. 

80.  Front  shoe  for  knee  hitting,  worn  by  "  Gladiator,"  1877. 

81.  Front  shoe  ground  tread  beveled  to  increase  its  surface. 

82.  Front  three  quarter  shoe  for  bruised  heels. 

83.  Front  shoe  gradually  thinned  from  toe  to  heels. 

84.  Hind  concaved  shoe. 

85.  Front  shoe  flat  toe  and  heel  calkins  for  trotters. 

86.  Same  style  shoe  as  No.  8o. 

87.  Hind  shoe  inside  heel  calk  for  ankle  hitting. 

88.  Front  navicular  shoe — A,  high  center  of  pad,  B,  heel  calkins. 

89.  Front  shoe  for  bruised  heels,  see  Fig.  91. 

90.  Front  shoe  for  knee  hitting,  see  Fig.  83. 

91.  Front  shoe  for  "  pigeon  toe,"  wide  web  outside. 

92.  Front  racing  plate,  aluminum,  weight,  one-half  ounce. 

93.  Front  hospital  shoe,  adjustable  center  plate,  for  wounds,  etc. 

94.  Front  shoe  for  knee  hitting. 

95.  Hind  shoe  concaved  quarters  for  roadsters. 

96.  Front  shoe  for  various  purposes,  see  Fig.  91. 

97.  Front  shoe  with  leather  pad,  four  calks,  etc.,  for  slipping,  etc. 

98.  Front  shoe  rounded  ground  surface  for  forging. 

99.  Front  deep  seated  concaved  shoe  for  saddle  horses. 

100.  Front  rim  shoe  to  prevent  slipping. 

101.  Frontnon-paddlingshoe,  toe  and  heel  calks,  and  wide  web  inside. 

102.  Front  modified  turn-table  shoe. 

103.  Front  shoe  for  quarter  cracks. 

104.  Front  shoe  toe  and  heel  calks  inside  for  ankle  cutting. 

105.  Front  "  hospital "  shoe  for  sore  tendons,  heels  1  inch  high,  taoer- 
ing  to  toe. 

106.  Pony  shoe. 

107.  Front  shoe  toe  beveled  out  and  quarters  beveled  in  for  stumbling. 

108.  Front  deep  seated  rim  shoe  for  slipping. 

109.  Hind  shoe  modified  for  wheeled  feet. 

110.  Front  three  quarter  tip  for  sore  heels. 

111.  Front  light  aluminum  shoe  for  track  work. 

112.  Hind  deep  concaved  shoe. 

113.  Front  rim  shoe  to  prevent  slipping. 


286 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig.  190.     Case  No.  5. 


FIG.    190.       CASE    NO.  5.  287 


No.  114.  Front  rim  tip,  worn  l>y  trotting  horse  "  Jack." 

115.  Hind  rim  tip. 

116.  Himi  shoe  for  Shetland  pony. 

117.  Front  shoe  for  Shellund  pony. 

118.  Front  racing  plate. 

119.  Hind  racing  plate. 

120.  Front  bar  shoe,  open  space  outside,  for  interfering,  etc.  (Irish  shoe). 

121.  Hind  scoop  toe  grab  shoe  for  track  work. 

122.  Hind  skeleton  plate  for  racing. 

123.  Front  skeleton  plate  for  racing. 

124.  Hind  shoe,  elevated  heel  bar,  for  curbs  and  spavins  on  trotters. 
123.  Front  heart  bunk  bar  rolling  motion  shoe. 

126.  Hind  scooped  toe  grab  shoe. 

127.  Front  center  bearing  shoe,  see  Fig.  Ii3. 

128.  Hind  "  spreading"  shoe,  see  Figs.  i;3J  and  133. 

129.  Front  rasp  cut  plain  flat  shoe,  see  Fig.  119. 

130.  Front  deep  concaved  shoe  for  saddle  horses. 

131.  Front  improved  rolling  motion  shoe,  rim  on  inner  border. 

132.  Front  scooped  toe  grab  slioe  with  b.xr  for  racers. 

133.  Front  concaved  shoe  with  thin  heels  for  high  heeled  horses. 

134.  Front  toe  weight  scooped  grab  toe  bar  shoe  for  track  use. 

135.  Front  bar  shoe,  see  Fig.  118. 

136.  Front  shoe  beveled  on  outer  and  inner  rims  for  speedy  cutting,  forging,  etc. 

137.  Hind  scoop  grab  toe  bar  shoe  beveled  on  inner  quarters. 

138.  Front  scooped  grab  toe  bar  shoe,  see  Fig.  122. 

139.  Front  rolling  motion  shoe  No.  2,  see  Fig  94. 

140.  Front  rasp  cut  plain  flat  shoe,  see  Fig.  117. 

141.  Front  rasp  cut  bar  shoe. 
142.'  Front  plain  flat  shoe. 

143.  Front  plain  heart  sunk  bar  shoe. 

144.  Front  plain  open  shoe. 

145.  Hind  rasp  cut  shoe,  see  Fig.  120. 

146.  Hind  rasp  cut  grab  shoe  (modified  from  the  last). 

147.  Front  shoe  square  concaved  toe  flat  ground  face  for  knee  hitting. 

148.  Front  shoe  light  weight  for  stumbling,  see  Fig.  95. 

149.  Front  bar  shoe  with  toe  calk,  worn  by  "  Kremlin." 

150.  Front  plain  light  bar  shoe. 

151.  Hind  bar  shoe,  long  heels,  for  long  striding  horses  or  weak  tendons. 

152.  Front  concaved  thin  heeled  shoe  for  high  heeled  horses. 

153.  Scooped  toe  or  grab  tip. 

154.  Hind  bar  shoe  with  long  outside  branch. 

155.  Front  raised  split  bar  shoe  with  leather  pad,  see  Fig.  121. 

156.  Front  shoe  deeply  concaved  for  saddle  horses. 

157.  Hind  plain  side  weight  shoe. 

158.  Front  grab  toe  bar  shoe  with  side  and  heel  calks,  see  Fig.  125. 

159.  Front  heart  sunk  bar  shoe  with  toe  and  heel  calks. 

160.  Front  shoe  modified  "Centennial,"  see  Fig.  86. 

161.  Front  rope  toed  shoe  with  heel  calks  for  ice  aijd  mud. 

162.  Hind  scooped  toe  grab  shoe  lor  trotters. 

163.  Front  toe  weiglit  bar  shoe. 

164.  Front  scooped  toe  grab  shoe,  long  branch  outside,  for  trotters. 

165.  Hind  plain  light  shoe. 

166.  Front  scooped  toe  grab  shoe  beveled  in  and  out  for  trotters. 

167.  Hind  shoe,  tapered  heels  to  toe,  worn  by  trotter  "  Harry  Wilkes." 

168.  Hind  scooped  toe  grab  shoe. 

169.  Hind  shoe  for  knuckling,  see  Fig.  71. 

170.  Hind  scoop  grab  toe  bar  shoe,  long  heel  branches,  etc.,  for  sore  tendons. 


Fig.  191.     A  CASE  OF  FINE    HORSESHOES.-MADE    BY  PROF.  WM.  RUSSELL. 

The  above  case  of  horseshoes  is  said  to  be  the  finest  in  the  world.  The  large  shoe  in  the 
middle  of  the  ease  is  a  medal  frame  with  fourteen  medals  on  the  inside.  The  weight  of  the  large 
shoe  is  161^  pounds.  All  of  the  shoes  shown  are  for  speed  horses,  and  represent  the  most  recent 
used  by  me  in  my  system  of  balancing  the  feet  so  as  to  insure  the  greatest  speed  and  endurance 
The  fifteen  medals  (gold,  silver  and  bronze)  are  all  the  highest  premiums,  and  represent  the 
highest  honors  obtained,  wherever  the  shoes  have  been  exhibited. 


eussell's  p^oot  and  heel  adjusters. 


289 


Fig.  102.    Russell's  Foot  Adjuster. 
Instructions  for  use  given  on  pages  77  to  81 ;  also  see  Figs.  16  to  2fi. 


Fig.  193.     Russell's  Heel  Adjuster,  for  obtaining  the  Angles  cf 

THE  Heels. 

A,  A,  Slots  in  plates  for  adjustment  to  position  desired.   • 

B,  Thumb  screw  for  setting  the  plates. 

C,  F,  Adjustable  lever  to  obtain  the  angle  of  heels. 

D,  Lower  bed-plate,  to  lay  on  bottom  of  the  foot  across  the  quar- 
ters, in  equalizing  the  angle  on  both  sides  of  the  heel. 


290 


SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 


Fig,  195.    Russell's  Foot 

Testers. 

Explained  on  page  135. 


Fig.  194.     Russell's  Hand  Vise,  for  Hot  Rasping  Shoes. 

A,  Set  screw  to  fasten  the  jaw,  B,  on  shoe. 

C,  Bed  plate,  shaped  like  a  front  foot  shoe,  on  which  to  lay  the  shoe,  to 
hot  or  cold  rasp  it  on  the  bevel  of  the  heels  and  quarters. 

D,  Lower  projection,  to  catch  in  the  jaws  of  stationary  vise. 

E,  End  of  jaw  to  grip  the  slioes.    Length  of  vise,  16  inches. 

This  tool  is  indispensable  to  all  shoers  who  shoe  light  horses,  as  by  its 
use  the  thinnest  shoes  can  be  filed  without  springing. 


EECIPES   AND    INSTRUCTIONS.  291 


CHAPTER  XI. 
RECIPES  AND  INSTRUCTIONS. 

FOR   TREATING   DISEASES   OP   THE   HORSE'S    FEET  AND 

LEGS. 

It  seems  suitable  and  convenient  as  to  the  general  purpose 
of  this  book  that,  after  having  dwelt  somewhat  largely  upon  a 
review  of  the  principal  diseases  and  injuries  which  impair  the 
organic  soundness  of  the  horse's  foot,  and  treating  in  detail  the 
efficacy  of  a  safe  and  scientific  mode  of  shoeing  in  counteracting 
such  evils,  I  should  devote — in  a  limited  way — a  few  recipes, 
such  as  I  have  used  myself  with  the  most  satisfactory  results. 
It  is  not  my  intention,  however,  to  advise  that  the  attendance 
of  a  regular  veterinarian  be  dispensed  with  when  any  serious 
form  of  disease  exists  which  calls  for  medical  treatment  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  farrier's  art.  Neither  do  I  desire  to  appear  in 
a  false  light  with  respect  to  the  valid  claims  of  professional  vet- 
erinary practice.  At  all  times  the  mechanical  work  of  shoeing 
is  combined  more  or  less  with  the  surgical  treatment  of  the  foot, 
hence  the  farrier  of  to-dav  must  be  more  than  a  "  blacksmith," 
or  a  mere  worker  in  iron  ;  and  it  is  for  his  guidance  that  I  am 
now  writing.  Having  placed  before  my  readers  the  undoubted 
utilities  of  shoeing  for  remedial  purposes,  I  likewise  submit  the 
following  medicaments  as  useful  applications  for  any  of  the 
cases  to  which  they  especially  refer.  Success  in  the  use  of  these 
preparations,  I  may  add,  depends  upon  a  right  understanding  of 
the  nature  of  the  trouble  in  each  instance,  and  then  in  the  proper 
application  of  the  remedy. 


292  SCIENTIFIC    HORSESHOEING. 

No.  1. 
Cleansing  the  feet. — The  importance  of  cleanliness  in 
keeping  the  feet  of  horses  free  from  certain  disorders  of  the 
skin  and  other  excretory  matters  that  are  causative  of  eruptions 
can  not  be  overlooked.  In  prescribing  a  simple  wash  for  the 
feet,  therefore,  it  is  only  a  step  in  the  way  of  preventing  disorder 
in  its  functions,  to  which  neglect  of  such  precaution  may  lead. 
In  hot  dry  weather  the  extremities  of  the  limbs  should  be 
thoroughly  scoured  at  least  once  a  day.  Use  the  best  castile  soap 
with  a  liberal  supply  of  warm  water  and  make  a  good,  stiff 
lather  and  apply  it  with  a  brush — to  rub  it  in  and  thus  cleanse 
the  skin  from  all  impurities.  Then  rinse  off  with  clear  water 
and  dry  with  a  cloth.  This  operation  should  apply  to  all  parts 
of  the  ankle  and  hoof,  including  the  heels,  and  in  this  way  a 
clear,  healthy  condition  of  skin  and  elastic,  tough,  glossy  wall 
will  be  insured,  if  the  foot  is  otherwise  healthy. 

No.  2. 

Foot  Salve. — Shoemaker's  wax,  ^  lb.;  Beeswax,  |  lb.; 
Mutton  Tallow,  for  summer  use,  ^  lb.;  and  for  winter  use,  ^  lb. 
To  be  melted  in  an  iron  pot  over  a  gentle  fire,  kept  constantly 
stirred  until  the  composition  is  well  dissolved  and  thoroughly 
mixed. 

This  preparation  is  invaluable  for  many  foot  ailments  when 
used  according  to  directions. 

For  Contraction. — After  the  foot  has  been  prepared  and 
the  shoe  fitted,  have  the  salve  well  warmed  and  fill  the  bottom 
of  the  foot  with  it,  then  cover  it  with  a  thin  overlay  of  white 
cotton  or  clean  oakum,  and  nail  on  the  shoe  with  a  piece  of 
leather  fitted  under  the  web  to  cover  the  bottom  of  the  foot  to 
retain  the  salve  in  place  and  protect  it  from  dirt. 

For  Coronitis. — "Warm  the  salve  as  before  and  thoroughly 
saturate  with  it  several  pledgets  or  thin  flat  layers  of  white  cot- 
ton and  cover  the  coronary  band  all  around  with  a  thick  coating 


RECIPES   AND    INSTRUCTIONS.  293 

of  salve,  secured  with  a  compress  bandage  of  linen,  laid  over  it 
to  keep  it  in  place,  after  which  rub  a  warm  smoothing  iron 
over  the  surface  from  toe  to  heels,  repeating  this  process  once 
or  twice  daily  for  the  space  of  a  week  or  more,  being  careful 
not  to  scorch  or  burn  the  bandage  in  so  doing.  The  application 
of  heat  will  operate  as  a  tonic  to  stimulate  the  circulation 
throughout  the  diseased  organ,  causing  it  to  absorb  the  salve, 
which  will  at  once  check  the  ossific  tendency  and  assist  the  horn 
secreting  powers  of  the  coronary  cushion. 

For  Laminitis  and  Villitis,  or  for  inflammation  and  sore- 
ness of  the  villous  tissue  of  the  toe  and  sole  of  the  foot,  follow 
the  directions  given  for  treatment  and  shoeing  in  Chapter  VII, 
covering  such  diseases. 

For  Bruised  and  Ulcerated  Heels. — Have  the  foot  leveled 
and  prepared  by  removing  all  the  hard,  dead,  portions  of  the 
horny  sole  around  the  afl'ected  part,  then  apply  the  saWe  and 
cotton  in  and  around  the  sore  or  tender  spot.  After  the  shoe  is 
applied,  soak  the  foot  in  tubs  of  warm  water,  as  this  will  act 
favorably  in  reducing  inflammation  and  removing  soreness. 

For  Chapped  Heels  or  Dry  Skin. — Apply  the  salve  s^me 
as  above,  secured  with  bandage,  and  repeat  the  heating  process 
with  warm  iron  as  recommended  for  Coronitis  and  all  soreness 
or  derangement  will  quickly  disappear. 

For  Punctured  Wounds. — Whenever  the  foot  is  wounded 
by  a  nail  or  other  sharp  body,  it  will  be  necessary  to  immediately 
open  up  the  injured  spot  by  means  of  a  drawing  knife  and 
remove  the  edges  of  the  wounded  parts  as  deep  as  the  horny 
tissue  extends.  The  salve  is  then  to  be  poured  into  the  orifice 
until  the  cavity  is  filled — the  foot  being  held  up  that  the  salve 
may  cool  and  harden.  By  having  it  remain  there  the  stimulus 
which  it  imparts  will  soon  allay  any  irritation  and  bring  on  a 
healthy  growth. 


294  SCIENTIFIC  horseshoeIng. 

No.  3. 

Liniment  for  Chronic  and  Painful  Inflammations  of 
Tendons,  Coronary  Cushion,  etc. — Tincture  of  Aconite  Eoot, 
2  oz.;  Spirits  of  Ammonia,  2  oz.;  Tincture  of  Iodine,  4  oz. 
Mix  and  sliake  well  before  usins:. 

This  remedy  is  applicable  to  all  cases  of  soreness  or  inflam- 
mation in  the  tendons  and  coronary  structures,  also  it  operates 
favorably  on  bog  spavins,  wind  galls,  and  chapped  hocks.  It 
Btimulates  the  parts  affected  to:  healthy  action  by  causing  all 
exudations,  whether  of  the  bones  or  soft  parts,  to  be  quickly 
re-absorbed  and  the  irritations  allayed.  In  applying,  saturate 
and  rub  the  parts  affected  well  once  a  dayv  and  in  severe  cases, 
twice  a  day,  morning  and  evening,  continuing  the  operation 
until  recovery  takes  place. 

No.  4. 

Wash  for  General  Purposes. — The  following  recipe  is  a 
mild  caustic,  and  will  result  in  no  injury  to  the  foot  if  used  as 
directed  :  Carbolic  Acid,  1  ounce  ;  Glycerine,  1  ounce  ;  Distilled 
Water,  6  ounces.     Mix  thorouo^hlv. 

When  used  for  bruised  heels,  pare  all  the  dead  hard  sole 
from  around  the  bruised  parts,  thinning  the  insensitive  sole  un- 
til it  will  spring  under  the  pressure  of  the  thumb.  After  having 
done  this,  saturate  white  cotton  large  enough  to  cover  the 
affected  parts,  lay  over  the  bruise,  and  allow  it  to  remain  for 
fifteen  or  twenty  minutes.  Put  a  few  drops  of  the  wash  on  the 
cotton  occasionally,  so  as  to  keep  it  thoroughly  saturated.  It 
sometimes  happens  that  the  horse  strikes  his  opposite  ankle  or 
shin,  cutting  it,  and  quite  often  proud  flesh  sets  up  in  the 
wound.  If  this  happens,  take  white  cotton  large  enough  to 
cover  the  wound,  thoroughly  saturate  with  the  wash  and  lay 
over  the  wound.  Bandage  the  leg  to  hold  the  cotton  in  place, 
and  let  it  remain  on   the  wound  for  fifteen   or  twenty  minutes. 


RECIPES   AND    INSTRUCTIONS. 


295 


This  will  remove  the  proud  flesh  and  stimulate  a  healthy 
growth.  I  have  used  the  ahove  wash  and  it  has  always  pro- 
duced the  best  and  most  satisfactory  results. 

No.  5. 

Witch  Hazel  Wash,  for  General  Purposes,  such  as 
Sprained  Tendons,  Sore  Loins  and  Soreness  of  the  Muscles. 
— Witch  hazel  wash  is  an  old,  long-standing  remedy,  well 
known  to  horsemen,  and  has  a  well-earned  reputation  as  a 
relief  for  the  above-named  troubles.  I  have  used  it  myself  with 
the  most  satisfactory  results.  Always  bear  in  mind  to  have  the 
foot  properly  balanced,  and  a  shoe  so  constructed  and  fitted  that 
when  nailed  to  the  foot  the  horse  will  stand  with  his  foot  and 
leg  naturally  under  the  body.  In  this  way  the  weight  of  the 
body  is  equally  distributed  to  all  parts  of  the  foot  and  leg. 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  School  of  Veisrinary  Medicine  at 
Tufts  University 
200  Westboro  Road 
North  Grafton,  MA  01536 


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